V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N

We’re headed out of town this week, for a week in the woods with our trusty camper. The boys are especially excited to be going, as are Jean and I, of course. After our inaugural season with the fifth wheel last year, I’m starting to get a handle on it – I think! But if you happen to see smoke signals in the western sky, you’ll know we’re in need of some help.

Summer is that golden season, when routines change up a bit and schedules, hopefully, loosen somewhat, too. There is significant value in unstructured days, when the clock doesn’t control and we’re free to move and play on a whim. This is especially true for children, but a similar change is also a good idea for adults.

Somebody once suggested that it’s a “trip” when you travel with kids, but a “vacation” when you go somewhere alone with your wife or husband. Perhaps that’s offered tongue-in-cheek, but there’s also some unfortunate cynicism attached to the sentiment. I love being with Trent and Troy, and vice versa (I think!). As I’ve said before, part of the adventure of any vacation is getting there, and it’s true that troubles can and often do strike in the process of time away. But we’ve also learned that you can even find fun when things don’t go according to plan.

But let me turn a corner here. If you’re headed out on a vacation of your own, I’d like to leave you with some rhetorical questions to take along. What if this were the last vacation you ever took with your kids? What if you were given just seven more days with them here on earth – how would you spend your time together? What would you talk about? How would they remember their last week with you?

This we know but so often forget: There are no guarantees in life; each day of 24 hours comes wrapped as a gift from God.

Spend it wisely; spend it well.