When the sunshine FINALLY arrives after a long Michigan winter, families are inclined to get outside and enjoy the nice weather. And as we go, we can seize the opportunities to have meaningful conversations that point our kids to Jesus just as we are tasked with in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the way, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Here’s some ideas to get you started:

• Sunglasses-Shades are not just a way to look stylish, they also help you see better in the sun. Next time you’re putting your shades on, talk about how we can see needs around us better. Who or what might God be trying to get us to pay attention to? When we see needs around us what can, or should we do?
• Water Fun-Martin Luther always charged people to remember their baptism anytime they got wet in the shower or bath. Sprinklers, water balloons, and squirt guns are all fun activities in the hot summer sun and as you dry off and clean up, talk about baptism and what God did for you in baptism.
• Sandcastles-When you go to the beach or even play in the sandbox at home, talk about the wise and foolish builders from Luke 6—the wise man built his house on the rock and the foolish man built his house on the sand; when the rains came, the wise man’s house stood, but the foolish man’s house fell. Ask your kids what happens when water hits their sand castle. Ask what it means to build our lives on a solid foundation and what would be examples of solid or shifting foundations.
• Sunscreen-We all need some sort of protection from the harsh sun. As you slather up the kids, talk about how the sunscreen protects our bodies, but we also need protection for our souls. Ask how God protects our souls. Talk about the armor of God and how it helps protect us from the devil’s schemes.
• Cool Treats-Who doesn’t like to cool down from the heat with some lemonade, ice cream, or popsicles? As you take a break to cool down, talk about how we all need breaks from the harshness of this world. In one of His parables, Jesus talks about how offering someone who is thirsty a drink, is like we’re doing it for Him. (Matthew 25) How can we help offer breaks and relief to other people who need them?

What other ways can you point your kids to Jesus as you go about your days in the sunshine?