{"id":5449,"date":"2020-06-12T12:47:15","date_gmt":"2020-06-12T17:47:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sarahdamm.com\/?p=5449"},"modified":"2020-06-12T12:53:31","modified_gmt":"2020-06-12T17:53:31","slug":"five-ways-grow-faith-summer-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sarahdamm.com\/index.php\/2020\/06\/12\/five-ways-grow-faith-summer-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Ways to Grow in Faith This Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two weeks ago, I wrapped up nine weeks of distance learning with my six children. The school year\u2019s end felt very anticlimactic, as I packed up books to return to school and recycled worksheets.<\/span><\/p>\n

As I turned the calendar to June, I realized that we already have been home for the length of a typical summer break. And now, another 12 weeks at home\u2014with mostly empty, uneventful days\u2014stretched out in front of us.<\/span><\/p>\n

And I honestly wondered, \u201cWhat are we going to do?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A Summer Like No Other<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Summer 2020 is shaping up to be a summer like no other. With canceled camps, closed pools, and postponed vacations, we are settling into the reality that we will continue to spend much of the summer months in and around home.<\/span><\/p>\n

And that could have us feeling anxious, weary, and frustrated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hit the Reset Button<\/b><\/h2>\n

At the beginning of quarantine, I recall an optimistic outlook about how to make the most of our time at home. We initiated grand plans to learn new things, read so many books, and declutter every nook and cranny. But as the days turned into weeks and then months, many of us grew weary. Our cozy walls started closing in on us. And our grand plans faded away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, faced with more of the same this summer, it is time to take a deep breath and hit the reset button. We need a renewed outlook and a fresh perspective.<\/span><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t pretend to have all the answers. I experience days of discouragement, too. But at the beginning of a new month and a new season, I resolve to brainstorm new ways to make the most of the reality in which we are living.<\/span><\/p>\n

How can we keep our hope, grow in faith, and renew our spirits, especially in the midst of uncertain times and uncharted territory, like that of Covid-19?<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s Grow in Faith<\/b><\/h2>\n

Here are five ways to grow in our faith and in our relationship with Jesus, the source of true hope, this summer.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Refresh your prayer<\/b><\/h3>\n

Did you know that each month of the liturgical year is dedicated to a particular Catholic devotion? This summer, change up your prayer routine to incorporate prayers pertaining to these devotions.<\/span><\/p>\n