Summer Word

After the grueling months of hard work at school, summer vacation has come and we couldn't be more excited.

We are a family of traditions-and those don't stop during the summer. We have many of the same ones your family does, and some silly ones that only mean something to a Wilkinson, and then we have what's become one of our most looked forward to.

Our Summer Word.

We take a word and that becomes our focus for the summer.  Some days we intensely focus on the word, somedays it's more in the background, but it's there everyday in some capacity.

Over the years we have used such words as; kindness, obedience, respect, and service.

I was just so extremely excited to unveil our word the other night at dinner. For several weeks I  was having trouble coming up with a word.  Some ideas would pop up, but I just didn't feel like they were the one.  But after some conversations with my kiddos and their friends, and lots of prayer over the matter, I really felt that the Lord had impressed this particular  upon my heart.

So over dessert and a drumroll (If you haven't guessed by now, we kinda make a big deal out of things at the Wilkinson house) we unveiled our Summer Word.

Encouragement

The idea behind the word is that this world can be a very difficult place, and while we may be REALLY REALLY good at building our friends and those around us up, sometimes we are quick -VERY QUICK at tearing each other down, or OURSELVES.

We want our home, our family to be a safe place. That each person can be who they are-and that is enough.

We asked the kiddos for ideas of what they think that word might mean, and they had a some great ones: Build up, support, cheer up.
We talked about the Apostle Paul and the amazing journey's he took, but how he needed support and encouragement from people like Silas and Barnabas. And how when people think of us, wouldn't it be great if the first thing they thought of was, man they love Jesus and then next, boy they are always an encouragement to me!

The Hubs told the kids the could picture encouragement as 'pouring courage into another person'.

Wow, that struck me in such a powerful way.

So, that's what we are attempting to do as a family this summer. Pour courage into each other to be exactly who God wants us to be, and knowing it's always safe  at home, to be exactly who we are.


I would love to hear from you if your family has a summer word or focus and what that is, or if you decide to implement this at your house for the first time!

Now I will encourage you-Be who you are, even when you think it's not enough, God says - "I created you and you are more than enough!"

Romans 15:2 (NIV) Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.


Blessings,