Summer is passing quickly. The calendar shifted from June to July in the blink of an eye. We have now reached the midpoint of summer, and August is fast approaching. Before we know it, our grandchildren will be rushing to finish their summer reading assignments and shopping for school supplies, all in preparation for a new academic year. If we want to do something special and intentional with our grandchildren this summer, the time is now.

Here are some suggestions for creating mid-summer memories:

Get Out in Nature

I remember the summer day my two-year-old granddaughter and I traipsed through the Audubon Swamp. “What’s that, Gam-maw?” she asked repeatedly. We saw turtles, bumblebees, ducks, and yellow butterflies. The highlight of the day was watching a common egret encourage her fledglings to leave the nest and fly.

The Creation story tells us that “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good,” (Genesis 1:31). I believe that one of our roles, as grandparents, is to instill in our grandchildren an appreciation for the beauty of God’s handiwork. This appreciation begins when we invite our grandchildren to interact with God’s creation by searching for shells, jumping in ocean waves, following a trail through the woods, or catching crawfish in a mountain stream.

Try Something New

Do you and your grandchildren share an interest in learning a new hobby or mastering a skill such as quilting or woodworking? Then, in the words of the Roman poet Horace, you need to carpe diem or make the most of each day. You need to sign up for lessons before the new school year begins.

With Google or another good search engine, plus a bit of tenacity on your part, you will be able to find a plethora of classes at your local library, community college, or in a private setting. Whether you and your grandchildren master the class and advance to a new level is irrelevant. The significance of exploring new interests lies in the experience (and giggles) you share.

Watch a Movie

Do you love sitting down with a large bowl of buttered popcorn and enjoying a family movie with your grandchildren? If so, have you considered how movies can be used as conversation starters for exploring topics like good vs evil?

If your grandchildren insist on watching Disney princess or superhero movies, do not despair. You can use these stories to introduce or reinforce the salvation story with your grandchildren. After all, we have a Prince Charming/ Superhero who defeated evil on the cross and overcame death. His name is Jesus.

Look for God Sightings

In her book Wonderstruck, author Margaret Fienberg invites readers to a thirty-day challenge to recapture the wonder of God. She defines wonder as those moments when we recognize the Presence of God and his handiwork in our everyday lives.

Recently, I heard about a grandmother who invited her grandchildren to spend the night with her. She awakened them before dawn and instructed them to pile into her SUV. Then, she drove them to a place where they could watch the sunrise. As the new day broke and the night sky filled with light, she and her grandchildren talked about God, the Creator of heaven and earth. Together, they read the first chapter of Genesis and offered prayers of thanksgiving for God’s creation.

Reinforce a Bible Story with a Follow-up Activity

Do your grandchildren know the difference between the Old and New Testaments? Do they know how to look up passages in the Bible? If not, they are not alone. Many of today’s youth are Bible illiterate, including those children who regularly attend Sunday school or youth group.

This summer, you can make a difference in your grandchildren’s lives by purchasing them a Bible, helping them place tabs in the Bible, and teaching them to look up a Scripture passage. I recommend that you choose a Bible story that can be reinforced with a fun summertime activity. For example, what about reading Genesis chapter seven (Noah and the Ark) and having a scavenger hunt at the zoo to see how many kinds of animals you can find, plus the types of food they eat?

Share a Bit of Kindness

Kindness is not overrated. A simple act of kindness can go a long way in brightening someone’s day. For example, you and your grandchildren can deliver homemade chocolate chip cookies and thank-you cards for the first responders at your local fire station. Or you can cut the grass and weed the flower beds for someone in your community who is struggling with health issues.

If you have bigger aspirations, you and your grandchildren can give back to the community through a service project such as volunteering at the library or SPCA, or organizing a fundraiser for a local charity. Regardless of the “kindness project” you choose, working together with your grandchildren creates bonds that will never be forgotten.