Supposed To Grow

a devotional for summer (and schedule change!)

Photo by Deanna Lewis on Unsplash

Welcome, dear readers!

Before we begin our devotional today, I wanted to briefly announce a slight schedule change that we’ll be making going forward! The Wildroot Parables has been operating largely unchanged since it started last year, but now that we’ve grown—and with the addition of Talebones—I am re-examining my overall Substack schedule to make sure I prevent any potential problems, like the dreaded burnout.

To that end, I have decided to post here on The Wildroot Parables twice per week instead of three times, removing the Wednesday discussions as a separate post.

Here’s how the week will look (major changes in bold):

• Mondays: one poetry-based devotional with a discussion question at the end that anyone can reply to

• Thursdays: a comment highlight from Monday’s discussion responses, and a wrap-up for the week (essay or other resource)

I know this will feel a bit unfamiliar at first, but I think we’ll all get the hang of this new rhythm as we go forward—and perhaps your inboxes will feel a little lighter, too!

In the spirit of starting strong, I will not include a Comment Highlight here. Instead, I look forward to seeing your discussion in the comments below and sharing one of your responses at the top of Thursday’s post!

And now, on with our devotional…

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summer
slow singer
swings low,

stretches tight like a cat
and then relaxes;

 a season
in which we're supposed to grow

and yet I wilt in the heat
and forget
what I know.

May I make a confession? Summer is not my favorite season. There are things about it that I like, even unique things I look forward to all year. But if I could choose, I wouldn’t choose summer. (I’m more of a spring gal, myself.)

Summer has its charms, but it also has its hazards. The heat makes me feel fuzzy and dull. The extra responsibility of an out-of-control garden and yard can overwhelm me. If I try to take my laptop and work outside, I get warm and irritable. But if I work inside, I feel guilty for not being outside.

Goodness. So much complaining about such an often-beautiful season!

I admit that in summer I’m never quite satisfied. I feel the natural urge to grow; it’s all around me. Young animals skirt the edges of our yard, wildflowers reach for the sun.

But I often find myself scowling in the heat of an afternoon, wilting, asking Creator-God, “Is this what a growing season is supposed to feel like? Because I’d rather not.”

And yet slowly, even on the days when I feel more striving than thriving, God waters dry roots, shades me with His wings, and refreshes me with grace, the infinite patience of the Holiest Gardener. Like a new seedling, I am growing in spite of myself. The sun is doing its good work in me, whether I recognize it or not.

This is a season in which I am supposed to grow.

And so, by the grace of God, I do.

Discussion Question:

How do YOU feel about summer? Does it feel like a season of growing to you, or do you feel more like wilting? And what refreshes you on the most arid days?

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Thank you for reading!

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