[Seasons: Summer XX]
Summer is the season of freedom.
Freedom to be youthful. Freedom to play and make memories. Freedom to explore and get dirty. Freedom to stay up late and sleep in.
For the last couple generations, since compulsory, public education became the norm in the United States *and* most kids stopped living on working farms, summer has been associated with youthful freedom. (This is likely why there are more children’s books written from the perspective of life during the summer break that any other season.)
“Summer” is synonymous with “summer break” rather than the actual season of summer.
Kids are more likely to think of slumbers parties, church camp, or traveling than they are about heat and dry fields.
Our culture has a larger influence on our experience of the seasons of life. There's nothing inherently anxiety inducing about the final weeks of the season of autumn, for example. Except that’s when we do a lot more shopping.
Developing an ability to discern the difference between life’s season that are under our control (and often imposed by others) and seasons that are inevitable is an important “tool” of wisdom. It’s a sign of self-awareness and spiritual maturity.
