Like Sunflowers we can be sturdy and beautiful flourishing in the warm, inviting season of Summer with personal and spiritual growth.
Hi, I’m Deborah, a Christian wife, poet, and writer. My passion is writing about the profound ways God is at work in my life, from the lessons He teaches me to the faith He instills in me. I find His handprints everywhere, giving us glimpses of Heaven to make our days a little easier, kinder, and gentler.
Welcome to my Summer Series, featuring essays, poems and podcasts designed to cultivate beauty in your soul, mind, and body. Today, we begin with my essay: Like the Sunflowers, Sturdy and Beautiful Who Will You Be at the End of Summer? Three Ways to Grow This Summer.
Growing up in the 1970s was a treasure, as I spent my Summers in swimming pools, beaches, and parks, fully embracing what we now call ‘slow living.’ #slowliving #Summer #Selfgrowth
Tweet
“A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
Like Sunflowers, which seem to grow overnight and are sturdy and beautiful, this, too, can be our Summer growth. Just as Sunflowers thrive in the Summer sun, we too can flourish in the warm, inviting season of Summer with personal and spiritual growth.
The arrival of long Summers stirs up a wave of nostalgia, transporting us back to the carefree days of our youth. I fondly remember the excitement that filled the air as Spring ended, signaling the start of three months of rest, play, and pondering.
Growing up in the 1970s was a treasure, as I spent my Summers in swimming pools, beaches, and parks, fully embracing what we now call ‘slow living.’
We were bored, but it was a good kind of boredom. Life slowed down, and the possibilities were endless. We had to rely on our imaginations because the only technology we had was an instant camera. This was the perfect time of year for self-reflection and trying something creative or new, such as painting and swimming lessons.
One hot August as a tween, the Newport Beach waves knocked me around as sunscreen and salt stung my eyes. Clinging to the slippery raft, my shoulders sizzled. But not even a bad case of sun poisoning that one Summer could keep me away from those glory days when there was not a care in the world.
Even back then I pondered, who would I be at the end of Summer?
First, I would be three months older and wiser. For instance, I would learn not to get too sunburned, which is a lesson in self-care itself. I also read books, wrote in my diary, hung out with friends, and took family vacations. Sometimes, I took classes or workshops to acquire new skills or for a summer job, such as when I served burgers at Tomorrowland in Disneyland, Anaheim, California.
Summer remains a time of self-discovery and reflection for me, even in adulthood. Summers are such a fascinating season of growth, not just in nature but also within us. I do not always have this time off each year, but even when working, I can still appreciate the sacred Summer season. One of my favorite places is under an umbrella on the beach. I immerse myself in a delightful book and my journal, where the long days stretch into the evening when the sun dips late, and sunsets mesmerize. It is a time of self-awareness and understanding, where it is just me and God, observing where He is growing me.
As you step into Summer, kindle your curiosity and embrace the potential for growth and self-discovery. Consider the person you could become by the end of this season with God’s guidance and your intentional efforts.
Who will you be at the end of Summer?
What lessons will you have learned?
What new experiences will you have had?
What growth will you have achieved?
The answers reside within you, waiting to be discovered. This season is not only about resting and relaxation but also about renewal and transformation.
Here are three ways to grow this Summer.
Use these ideas to inspire self-reflection and spiritual growth through Summer activities and introspection. Flourish by embracing rest, reflection, and play. Rest allows us to recharge and reflect, pondering leads to self-discovery and understanding, and playing fosters creativity and joy.
REST:
Recharge as you reflect. Rest is a gentle thread that weaves in and out of Summer. I find solace in the early morning as I rest with Psalms, a peaceful way to start the day. Then, I find rest in my beach chair under an umbrella, taking long strolling walks, worshiping, praising, singing, and reading my favorite books. Use these moments of rest as opportunities for joy and inspiration, a chance to recharge and reflect, and to fully appreciate the beauty of Summer.
In this pondering and pause, the lovely Summer begins to reveal itself and unwind with its days of rest, new beginnings, and adventures. So much adventure here, right?
PONDERING:
Pondering is a natural extension of rest, a deliberate slowing down to fully immerse in the season. It is a time for self-discovery, self-reflection, and growth. As you ponder, ask yourself, ‘What is my purpose in Summer?’
In the Bible, we are reminded in Ecclesiastes 3:1, ‘To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven’ (NKJV).
Pondering helps us to delve deeper into our thoughts and feelings, allowing us to gain a better understanding of ourselves and what God is speaking to us.
Slowing down to find our purpose is not just a growth path but also a source of joy. There is a particular delight in intentionally pursuing our purpose for Summer, in taking the time to ponder, pray, worship, and dance in the blessings of this season.
PLAY
Summer play takes form in many ways, such as a writing workshop like Cultivate 2025 or She Speaks, guitar lessons, a creative spiritual retreat, or simply spending time outside, whether in the mountains, at the beach, or in a park, to experience the beauty of nature and foster personal and spiritual growth.
I begin my Summer days with quiet contemplation and self-discovery through long walks, resisting the urge to make a phone call or listen to music. I want to see the flowers and trees, hear the birds, feel the sun’s rays, and see the sun’s glint as I reflect on all the beauty around me.
DEEPENING OUR ROOTS—
As mature Christian adults, Summer is the time for our roots to grow a deep connection to God our Father. We strengthen our faith and prepare ourselves for upcoming seasons by deepening our roots. Just think of the harmony and joy we can foster in our homes, churches, and communities as we intentionally practice the sacred season of Summer.
Grow this Summer- strong and beautiful as a sunflower.
SUMMER REFLECTION GROWTH RESOURCES:
1. Stuff I’d Only Tell God: A Guided Journal of Courageous, Honest, Obsessive Truth-Telling, and Beautifully Ruthless Self-Discovery by Jennifer Dukes Lee: Jennifer Dukes Lee’s book, “Stuff I’d Only Tell God” is not just a journal, but a source of joy and fun. It’s a private conversation between you and God, guided by Jennifer’s prompts, questions, diagrams, and concepts. These tools lead you to both enjoyable and profound places that need healing and one-on-one time with God. It’s a call and an invitation to self-reflection, introspection, and growth, where we can be honest with ourselves and with God. I found the book to be a delightful mix of fun and seriousness, of joy and profundity. It is helping me reconnect with who I am. It is a book to work through thoughtfully. Thanks to “Stuff I’d Only Tell God, “I have been able to do some deep excavating and healing with a lot of joy.
2. Slow Living by Jodi H. Grubbs Pull up a chair and exhale: this book will help you slow down. What a breath of fresh air is Jodi H. Grubb’s “Live Slowly: A Gentle Invitation to Exhale.” She is a lovely storyteller who invites you into her God-sent way of life. Her own struggle with the hurried pace of our culture gives her the expertise to guide us from the fast-paced lane of barefoot hospital amid Island Time. I often find myself going too fast, and I needed and enjoyed her invitation to slow down with barefoot hospitality, our Shepherd of the Sea, and Island time. This is a must-add to your bookshelf.
3. “Spurgeon and the PSALMS” (Thomas Nelson Bibles, 2022, NKJV translation): What an excellent way to read the Book of Psalms, as it encourages your heart this Summer. The Psalms are where God revealed Himself so we can know His love for us. Each devotion begins with a short passage from Spurgeon’s “The Treasury of David,” followed by a reading of each of the 150 Psalms. Add this beautiful, soft leather book to your devotional time and Bible study as you meditate on God’s word. The back has a place for notes.
4. Exalted Ground: Poems of Praise and Lament for the Living by Kimberly Phinney (The Way Back Books 2025)will sing poetry and praise into your heart. This book is beautifully written and tender as we go along with Kimberly and her family navigating chronic illness, faith, and love. I found myself crying yet laughing at times, and isn’t that the tender, lovely tension of this life?
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on my essay. This is a new edition of an essay that was first published in Alethia Today and encompasses so much of what I love about Summer. I hope you enjoy it too!
May the Lord bless you and keep you,
Deborah
Let’s Stay In Touch: Subscribe to my newsletter
NOTE: Some content may mention our amazing podcast sponsors or products I love and recommend. As a Sharesale and Amazon affiliate, I may earn a small commission if you purchase through the links I share—at no extra cost! Your support through these purchases helps support my blog and podcast, and I’m so grateful for your involvement in my work.
LOVE this SO much, my friend!! I love sunflowers!! I am spending the summer digging into the Psalms, especially King David’s. Thank you so much for this beautiful post, it was a very encouraging read this morning. Blessings, sweet friend … hope you have a beautiful summer! ???
What joy your message brings me Donna my friend.