Letting Go of Summer
Are you struggling to let go of summer’s pace?
For many, summer means longer days, outdoor moments, and a slightly slower pace. For a caretaker, summer can bring small mercies, a bit more sunlight to lift the spirit, easier outdoor activities for your loved one, or extra help from visiting family. But as the days shorten, so does the space for those moments.
Do You Grieve the Change in Rhythm?
It's easy to take for granted longer days that give you more light for errands, a sense of energy from warmer weather, maybe even a break in routine if family or friends visit.
When the calendar shifts toward September, it’s normal to feel an ache in your spirit. Shorter days can mean less sunlight for both you and your loved ones, more time indoors, and a noticeable change in energy levels.
Many caretakers push past these feelings, telling themselves to “just keep going,” but unacknowledged grief, even over seasonal changes, can build into deeper fatigue.
Allow yourself to pause and say, This is hard. Journal about what you’ll miss: late-evening walks, fresh produce from the farmer’s market, the sense of openness in your days. Name these losses before rushing to replace them with something else.
Acknowledging that shift doesn’t make you ungrateful; it makes you human. God created seasons to move us through cycles of growth, rest, and renewal, and part of honoring Him is allowing space for those transitions.
If you feel the sadness more deeply than expected, this may be a gentle signal to slow down, take more intentional self-care moments, and check in with your emotional health.
The rhythm may be changing, but God’s presence is constant. He’s the same in the long, golden days of June as He is in the crisp mornings of October.
Let's Preserve a Piece of Summer!
The end of summer doesn’t have to mean leaving all of it behind. One way to ease the seasonal transition is by intentionally carrying something from summer into the months ahead. This could be as simple as continuing to enjoy your morning coffee on the porch, making weekly fruit salads with tropical flavors, or keeping a vase of bright flowers in the kitchen. Small acts of continuity help you anchor yourself in the familiar while embracing the new.
Think about the moments this summer that brought you peace or joy. Was it a particular song you played in the car? An evening walk? Reading scripture in the sunlight? Instead of letting those practices fade with the change of season, make them part of your fall rhythm. You might adjust them for the weather; maybe the evening walk becomes a brisk morning stroll, or your porch coffee moves indoors with a candle lit beside you.
For caretakers, preserving a piece of summer also offers emotional grounding. Your life often revolves around adapting to someone else’s needs, and familiar rituals can help you feel centered. They remind you that not everything changes all at once.
God often calls us to remember, not just in our faith, but in our everyday lives. “Remember the wonders he has done” (Psalm 105:5) isn’t only about miracles long past, but about cherishing the small blessings we’ve been given. Carrying summer forward is one way to keep those blessings alive in your daily walk.
How Can We Reframe the Season?
When summer ends, it can be tempting to see fall as simply “the harder season,” shorter days, cooler temperatures, and often more medical or logistical challenges. But reframing how you view autumn can shift your heart from resistance to openness. Instead of asking, “What will I lose?”, ask, “What could I gain?”
Fall invites a natural slowing of pace. While that might mean more indoor time, it can also open space for reflection, cozy routines, and deeper moments of connection. Maybe autumn will bring more opportunities to read scripture aloud with your loved one, try new soup recipes, or start a gratitude journal. These slower rhythms can become pockets of rest rather than reminders of what’s gone.
As caretakers, it’s easy to focus on the to-do list and miss the chance to embrace what each season uniquely offers. Autumn’s beauty, the colors, the cooler air, and the harvest, all mirror the truth that God works in cycles. “The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us” (Psalm 67:6).
Just as the earth rests after its growing season, you are invited to find renewal in the quieter months.
Reframing the season doesn’t mean ignoring the difficulties; it means choosing to look for God’s gifts within them. When you do, you’ll find that fall isn’t an ending but a beginning, a fresh chapter where you can discover new joys, even in the midst of your caregiving responsibilities.
Here are two reflection questions to help you journal this week.
Which summer routines did you cherish most?
What’s one way you can carry that joy into the fall?
Need help getting started? Your mini-vacation idea for this month is taking a journaling vacation. See below. I’ve also included links to some of my favorite journaling things.
