Have you ever heard the term, “the lazy days of summer”? That gives the idea that summer slows things down. In other words, a “sweet-tea-in-a-Mason-jar-on-the-front-porch-with-your-feet-propped-up” experience. Sounds good, doesn’t it? But as I’m sure you know, it’s more fable than fact. Just ask the ones getting ready for VBS next week! Life is busy. Year round. And as we live our busy day-to-day lives, it becomes very easy to forget others and focus solely on “me, my, and mine.” So take just a moment today to think about what Paul said in Romans 15:1-2, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.” The word “edification” has the idea to build up or encourage. God commands us to “please” (meaning to “seek to be agreeable”) others with the goal of encouraging them. Someone once said, “Encouragement is like peanut butter; the more you spread it around, the more things stick together.” Will you do something on purpose to encourage someone today? Then this Sunday at church, do the same! You’ll find it even more refreshing than that big glass of sweet tea!