Summer Tea with Jesus

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.” (Philippians 4:12)

There is something genuinely magical about summer that evokes memories of my Mama’s porch—an inviting, serene space where her jar of sweet tea sparkled in the sunlight, resembling liquid amber. While other women rushed to pack bags for weeklong beach escapes or long drives to mountain cabins, Mama savored her sweet tea, brimming with vibrant orange slices. Her children were her universe, and her garden was her sanctuary. She didn’t seek rest in plush hotel beds adorned with crisp white linens; instead, she found solace in an old rocking chair, surrounded by her zinnias, pansies, roses, and marigolds. It was there, on that cherished back porch, that she enjoyed her peaceful vacations with Jesus, finding joy in the simplicity of life.

Mama didn’t have the means for fancy vacations or long road trips. Her summer getaway was her garden, where lilies stretched tall beside her rocking chair, and purple petunias spilled from clay pots at her feet. She would sip her sweet tea slowly as ice clinked softly, watching the hummingbirds flit from flower to flower, letting her soul rest in the presence of her Savior.

I remember watching her as a child and how she would settle into that chair after a long day of tending to everyone else’s needs. School was out, which meant she didn’t have to chase us about homework, sign PTA forms, or iron our school clothes before dawn. Summer gave her pause.

Mama’s sweet tea wasn’t just a drink; it was a ritual. Sometimes, in the heat of the afternoon, I would press my face to the screen door and watched her. Bible on her lap, flowers nodding their bright heads at her bare feet pressed into the cool porch boards, the scent of summer flowers wrapping around her like a prayer. She would close her eyes and smiled at the hum of bees and the chatter of birds. It was as if God Himself sat beside her, listening to her unspoken prayers and answering with a soft summer breeze.

She taught me that summer vacation isn’t about where you go—it’s about who you go with. Mama showed me that you don’t need money or plane tickets to make an actual vacation. Her rest was sacred because she invited Jesus to sit with her on that creaky porch. She knew what it meant to be in need and what it meant to have plenty, but she also knew that in every season, Jesus was enough.

I think about her now when life crowds in with deadlines, commitments, and the constant hum of devices telling me to produce more, hustle harder, and stay connected. The world tells us to chase bigger and better things—long weekends away, expensive resorts, and the perfect Instagram-worthy retreat. But what our souls truly crave isn’t found in a booking confirmation—it’s found in the quiet company of Christ.

As you make your summer plans, remember also to pause and take a vacation with Christ. Pour yourself a glass of sweet tea, find a quiet spot among your blooms, and sit with Him. Listen for His voice in the breeze. Let His grace refresh your weary spirit and His mercy cool your anxious mind.

Summer isn’t only for travel; it is for soul rest. Vacationing with Christ, you will hear His voice more clearly as He leads you beside still waters. You feel His mercy, and His grace sweeten your weary spirit. Then, when you return from your vacation, your words will carry the fragrance of His peace.

So, this summer, whatever your plans are for this season, sit for a while. Drink your tea. Smell the flowers. And remember Mama’s way and take your vacation with Christ; you will come back refreshed with more than just tan lines and photos. You will return with a backpack full of joy, your burdens lighter, and your spirit renewed for the work He has called you to do. You will find clarity for your decisions, peace for anxious thoughts, and hope in the places where He is calling you to grow.

You will find that His presence is the best getaway your heart will ever need.

Happy summer! May you always find sweet tea moments with Christ wherever you go.

Call to Action

Post my blog on your social media page this week with your personal reflection on what it means to “vacation with Christ.”