When I was a little boy, June was an exciting time of year for me. School was closing for the year which meant more play time. The days were longer and usually sunny and warm! My friends and I were allowed to be outside until dark, and that usually meant fly fishing after supper and swimming in the river down the road. June meant a lot more freedom for us with the school closed: the chores could be finished with plenty of daylight left to have fun with friends!
Because of the longer days, June meant more time with everyone in the family. My mother had more time to work on her chores which often meant I could spend time with her during the day. She worked so hard and had so many responsibilities! She washed clothes, hung them out, tended the vegetable garden, fed the animals, spread the fish, made the meals, cleaned the house, and watched over me as well! It seemed like mom never stopped moving.
Most of the day, my father was out in boat so I didn’t see his daily activities as much. I know he was always gone when the sun came up and he wouldn’t return to the house until dusk. Sometimes I would see him returning to the stage with a load of fish, but as soon as he unloaded and split the fish, he was back out on the water. Even though I loved for June to come, I’m not sure the adults appreciated the change as much as I did. They all seemed to get busier during the summer months.
The person I spent most of the summer time with was my grandfather. He no longer went out in boat but instead helped more on land. I remember him spreading fish and turning it over. It was mostly my grandfather that I fished with during the summer. Every day we would go in to the ponds looking for a meal of trout. Fresh trout was a nice change to codfish when the weather turned warm. My grandfather could always find enough trout for a meal and he also could tell a Bible story which seemed to go with the fishing experience. My favourite Bible story grandfather told was about the lost sheep. Grandfather said no matter what the issue was, the shepherd had to go looking for the lost sheep. He said the shepherd was responsible for all his animals, every last one and it didn’t matter how long it took for the shepherd to look for his lost sheep, that one sheep was worth looking for! Every sheep was as important as all the rest. Grandfather would then go on to explain how Jesus loved his people like the shepherd loved his sheep. Each and every one was just as important as the rest. Grandfather said every Christian has the same importance in the eyes of Jesus and his Father. God the Father didn’t have favourites, everyone who believed in him was a part of his flock and no matter what, he would look for them and after them, as long as they believed!
My grandfather was a simple man with very little formal education, but he was a true Christian and every fishing trip we went on together during those warm summer days was a lesson about the love our Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, have for each and every one of us! The warm summer days often take us all out of our routines and without our routines, we sometimes forget about the most important principles we have: Jesus loves us and we owe it to ourselves and him not to forget him in the longer warm summer days! Enjoy your holidays from work but don’t take holidays from our Lord and Saviour!
God Bless you all!
