It’s summer timeeeee, which probably means you're back home on your old stomping grounds. Summertime can be so sweet with the warm weather and sunshine but let’s be real, it can also be a little hard. If you’re like me and honestly really can’t stand your hometown it can be tough. If we're being honest it can also stir up old emotions or things you thought you had overcome. It can be hard being away from all of the friends you’ve made at school and can feel a little lonely at times. Summertime comes with a lot of relaxation and fun but it's also hard.
I’ll be completely honest, I have been struggling a little this summer. Coming back to my hometown is something I always struggle with. I have never cared for it and I was ECSTATIC when I was able to leave and head off to school. For me I have basically built a completely different life and become almost a completely different person since being at school, which makes coming back home hard. When I’m home it reminds me of all the past things I once struggled with but overcame and the person I once was. It can also feel awkward when seeing people from my past (ok but like why do I keep seeing so many opps at the gym let me run in peace please) and in a way you feel like the judgment of people from your hometown will never go away and they’ll always see you as the person you once were. It’s also hard when you’re stuck at home scrolling through instagram seeing all of the AMAZING trips people are on and if we’re being honest you’re a little jealous. With all this being said, summertime can be hard and a little boring at times, but I have fabulous news for you. God is still working even in the times when we feel bored or it may be hard.
Something that I find so amazing about God is that he loves you too much to leave you unhealed and hurt. That struggle you may have, he cares about it. The hurt you may still carry from mean girls in high school, he cares about that. The boring summer internship or job you dread, he cares about that. He cares about you more than we can even comprehend and he loves you more than you’ll ever know. He sees your struggles and he wants to help you through those you just have to let him. If you’re bored like me this summer, invite God in and let him work in your heart. You pretty much have all the time in the world right now so what else are you going to do? Take the time you have this summer and spend it with him and get to know him better. Sometimes we have slower seasons like this in life, but sometimes those are the times where we see God at work the most. I encourage you to really get into God’s word this summer and lear all about him and his goodness. I know you’re missing your friends big time, so instead of being sad and moping about it (I did this the first few weeks of summer and honestly it was a waste of time) take the time to intentionally pray for them or study what God’s word says about friendship and how you can apply that to your life. And you can literally FaceTime them and tell them how much you miss them and how excited you are to be reunited with them.
What I have learned so far this summer is that sometimes we have to slow down to really let God work and see what he is trying to teach me in this season. With our busy lives and constantly being on the go we often forget to slow down and spend intentional time with God and often miss what he wants to teach us. But what a perfect opportunity you have this summer to stop and really see what God is doing. The struggle of being back in your hometown is SO REAL. Like I said earlier it can be so hard seeing people from the past and really bring up hurt that you thought you had moved on from. Instead of being upset about this (like I was the first month of summer) talk to God about it and let him heal that hurt because he will and he cares so much about you. And also learn to forgive those people, carrying around hurt like that will only make you feel worse. Those kids from high school are not the same people they were two years ago just like you aren’t either. Don’t hold who they were over their head, just like you wouldn’t want them to do the same to you.
I used to really struggle with having a really bad perspective of my hometown and if I’m being completely honest I used to hate it. I could not think of one positive thing to say about Albuquerque, New Mexico and sometimes I still struggle to find good things to say about it (iykyk it’s definitely an interesting place). But this place has made me into the person I am today. Changing your perspective can work wonders for you. Instead of hating my hometown I have slowly learned to be thankful for it and all that it did to shape me into the person I am today. And you can’t totally hate your hometown when your family is there (and two cute golden retrievers in my case!) There are positives about your hometown. You just have to change your perspective and look for the good in it. That doesn’t mean you have to love it and want to move back there one day, but having an appreciation for it will only help you enjoy your time at home.
Summertime can be hard, but God is right there with you. I encourage you this summer to really get into God’s word and spend intentional time there. He has so much he wants to teach you and there is so much he wants to heal for you. Really invite him in this summer and watch he does for you, and you’ll see just how much he loves you.