Read an Excerpt
Life is Better at the Beach
By Christina Vinson Thomas Nelson
Copyright © 2016 Thomas Nelson
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-7180-8968-9
CHAPTER 1
Beach Rule #1
WAKE up SMILING.
Yawn. Stretch. You sit up and smile. The sun is beginning to stream softly through the windows, and the sea breeze flutters the curtains. It's time to wake up.
Mornings at the beach are completely different from everyday mornings at home, aren't they? When you're on vacation, mornings have no sense of urgency. Alarm clocks aren't blaring, lunches don't need to be packed, and no appointments fill your agenda — unless you count slowly sipping coffee with your loved ones or teaching your little ones how to jump the waves.
Waking up at the beach means you wake up smiling because there's an entire day to be enjoyed, and it's beckoning you to dive right in.
You may wonder, Is It possible to wake up smiling in my everyday, non-beach life? Life at the beach seems so easy, while "real life" has so many more demands. Rest assured, it is possible to wake up smiling, regardless of your location. Whether you're waking up at an oceanfront estate or in the suburbs of Chicago, you have one great promise that can bring great joy: the Lord's mercies are new every morning.
God wipes your slate clean time and time again. With the sunrise each day, you have the blessed assurance that He loves you. He gives you a fresh start each day, for all the days of your life.
If you can remember that great promise when you wake up in the morning, your day will start off on a positive note. No, you can't forego your daily responsibilities. Kids still need to be carpooled, work still needs to be completed, and cars still need to be fixed. But with the morning comes a new beginning, a genesis. And that's enough reason to smile.
"BECAUSE OF THE LORD'S GREAT LOVE WE ARE NOT CONSUMER, FOR HIS COMPASSIONS NEVER FAIL, THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING; GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS," — LAMENTATIONS 3:22–23
A grateful heart is a happy heart.
This old adage rings true even today. At the beach it's incredibly easy to cultivate a heart of gratitude. Your toes sink deep in the sugary sand, the sun shines bright overhead, and you take a nap on the screened-in porch. Even a lunch of peanut butter sandwiches tastes good after a day at the beach.
Being grateful comes easily when you're enjoying a relaxing vacation. The hard part is being grateful once the vacation ends.
After you clean the sand out of your sandals, your sunburn begins to peel, and everyday life resumes, it's easy to see the difficulties and annoyances. But reflect, for a moment, on how your life would change if you chose each day to have a grateful attitude.
Look around right now. Is your refrigerator fully stocked? Thank God for His provisions of groceries, the money that paid for your food, and even the transportation that took you to the grocery store. Can you hear the birds singing outside? Thank the Lord for His creation and that He cares for the lowly sparrow, and even more for you. Are you protected from the outdoor elements? Remind yourself to be grateful for your home and the safety it provides.
Once you begin to have eyes of gratitude, it will become a habit — one that tunes your heart to sing a new song.
Whether you're watching the sunrise while standing on the shore or driving to work, breathe out a prayer of gratitude. When your alarm goes off in the morning, let your heart rejoice in a day full of unexpected graces and gifts. When you sink into bed at night, reflect on how the Lord sustained you throughout the day. Be mindful of the blessings in each day, and your heart will be transformed. A grateful heart is a happy heart indeed.
"IN ORDINARY LIFE WE HARDLY REALIZE THAT WE RECEIVE A GREAT DEAL MORE THAN WE GIVE, AND THAT IT IS ONLY WITH GRATITUDE THAT LIFE BECOMES RICH." — DIETRICH BONHOEFFER
When you're vacationing at the beach, do you wake up and think, This is going to be a terrible day, or I am dreading all this sunny weather, or I wish this week would end already? The answer is always a resounding no. Life at the beach is full of hopeful expectation. You begin the day with a cheer, a smile, and a happy heart, for there's so much fun in store.
Why can you live in hopeful expectation all the time? Because of God's goodness — His ability to place tiny and big blessings in your day. You can live in expectation because God tells you to hope, to not give in to despair, and to trust in Him. He wouldn't speak those words if He didn't have good things in store for you.
Just as you know you will find treasures on the beach and feel the unexpected cool breeze when the humidity peaks, you can expect, with a hopeful heart, that God will show His goodness to you. It may not be in the way you envisioned, and it might not happen right away, but He will always come through — and exceed your expectations.
"Refuse to be average. Let your heart soar as high as it will." — A. W. Tozer
CHAPTER 2
Beach Rule #2:
SHOES are OPTIONAL.
At the beach you relax your standards. You don't need to fuss with the hair dryer, a bathing suit and bare feet is the dress code, and the only must-have toiletry is sunscreen. Letting go of the need to appear put together is one of the best parts of being at the beach. It's freeing, isn't it?
Sand gets tracked in, and wet towels hang in strange places. Perfectionism just doesn't belong at the beach, and you happily leave it at the door.
However, the same can't always be said when you return to normal life. It's a common pattern: you let yourself relax at the beach, but once vacation's over, you feel the need to appear put together — in every area of your life. The shoes go back on; the makeup routine begins again, throw pillows are fluffed and rearranged. None of those things is inherently bad, but if you're doing them out of concern for how you and your life are perceived, maybe it's time to think back to your days at the beach.
Remember that carefree feeling you had? It's possible to transfer that barefoot mentality into everyday life. You just need to let go of perfectionism for a bit. Let the laundry sit for another hour while you relax with a cup of tea. Let your children jump in mud puddles without worrying about the mess. Let the pressures of today roll off your shoulders as you think back on fond memories at the beach, and walk around your house barefoot — just to remind yourself what it's like.
"The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." — 1 Samuel 16:7
Sand invites you to kick off your shoes. The beach beckons you to dig your toes down deep. Waves of water cool off your feet when the sun gets too warm.
When you're at home, the act of going barefoot is probably a common occurrence too. It feels good to put up your feet. Whether your toes are perfectly proportioned or a little uneven, manicured or not, it doesn't matter — when you're at home, the shoes come off. At home being comfortable is key.
When you have company over to your house, the same applies to them. You welcome guests at the door. "Come in," you say. "Take off your shoes and stay awhile." Your guests happily oblige and pad around your home in their socks or bare feet. You're allowing your friends to treat your home as if it were theirs.
Some days you and your guests may track in sand. Other days snow or sleet might follow you in. Regardless of the season, you can always make your home comfortable for you and for your guests.
"Welcome home," you say. "Take off your shoes."
A little Sand between your toes always takes away your woes.
After a relaxing day by the water, your feet are probably covered with tiny grains of sand. In order not to track a sandbox's worth of sand into your home (or worse, into your bed!), you rinse off your feet before walking inside.
The Bible talks about feet numerous times, and one of the best-known stories involves Jesus and the disciples. More specifically, Jesus washed His followers' feet, which in those times was an extreme posture of servanthood and humility. Jesus washed His disciples' feet free of grime and sand and the elements, and He did it because He loved them.
The thought of washing others' feet may make you feel uncomfortable, and it's not done often in today's culture, but you can still live with a servant's heart. It could be a big step, like volunteering at your church or the local mission, but being a servant can simply mean a change in your mind-set.
Instead of grumbling about the sink of dishes your spouse was supposed to wash, grab a sponge and clean them as a simple act of love. When your neighbor's loose trash flies into your yard, pick it up and throw it away without complaint. If you see someone in need of help, stop to lend a hand instead of thinking, I don't have time. Sometimes a loving act just means biting your tongue instead of blurting out a harsh retort.
When you serve others in humility, you're washing their feet. You're showing them Christ and His character.
"THE MEASURE OF A LIFE, AFTER ALL, IS NOT ITS DURATION, BUT ITS DONATION." — CORRIE TEN BOOM
CHAPTER 3
Beach Rule #3:
SOAK up the SUN.
Sunshine? Check. Sunblock? Check. Lots of time to sit and soak in the sun? Check. The beach is a great place to sit back, relax, and just be while you're basking in the warmth of the sun's rays. Sometimes it's on a towel with full sun overhead. If you're sensitive to the sun, it's under an umbrella with plenty of SPF. But either way, you have time to sit and soak in the fresh air and the warm temperature.
It goes without saying that today's culture is fast and frenzied. Our to-do lists are never ending, and if we're sitting, it's usually in front of a computer while working. Now, more than ever before, we don't sit for pleasure — we're always on the move.
When you're sitting at the beach, you have time to think about life and to ruminate over your present choices or the next six months. There's space to take deep breaths and to enjoy the stunning scenery around you instead of watching the sunset from your car. You have margin to pray quietly and sit in the Lord's presence. But once you leave the beach, often that time goes out the window.
Take heart. You don't need to live that way. You can make time to sit in the quiet, just you and God. All it takes is a little discipline.
Whenever you have five minutes to spare, whether it's in the early morning, after lunch, or right before bed, make it a habit to spend time alone. Make it nonnegotiable — a necessity as important as eating or sleeping. You won't have days on end to sit, but even a few minutes of intentional, focused sitting will be beneficial for your body and soul. Have a seat.
"YOU'RE MY PLACE OF QUIET RETREAT; I WAIT FOR YOUR WORD TO RENEW ME." — PSALM 119:114 MSG
Sun is good for your health and mood. Chances are, you've probably heard that your body produces the vitamin D you need when your skin is exposed to sunlight. It helps you feel more awake and more positive, and it is often called the sunshine vitamin.
The sun also helps the foliage and plants you may see near the beach. Wild lilac spreads its intoxicating fragrance. Bearberry pops up on sand dunes and beaches, and animals feed on it during the winter. Wild columbine grows throughout the Great Lakes region. Without the sun, many of these plants would not thrive or even survive.
What can we learn from the sun? We can learn how to nurture ourselves. Just as the sun gives us important vitamins and warms our skin, we need to be sure we're helping our own bodies thrive. In short, we need to take care of ourselves.
Nurturing yourself may look different for you than it looks for your siblings, your parents, or your friends. It can be anything from buying fresh flowers just because they make you happy to making an appointment with a counselor to talk through some worries. You can nurture yourself by taking a long walk one night a week or by making sure to eat plenty of greens. Read the Bible, have coffee with a friend, or ask for help. Make that annual doctor's appointment, take a vacation day, or learn to rewire that negative voice in your head.
For many people, taking care of oneself doesn't come easily. Life is too busy, your personal needs are overshadowed by others' needs, or you simply feel selfish doing it. But just as the sun brings life through its rays, you need to ensure you're taking in rays yourself. When you allow yourself to soak up the sun and all its benefits, you're helping your body, mind, and soul, and your own personal sunshine will radiate into others' lives. Nurture yourself. Soak up the sunshine.
SUNSHINE is the BEST MEDICINE.
CHAPTER 4
Beach Rule #4:
LOOK for SEASHELLS.
Found seashells are little treasures. There are so many kinds — fighting conch, kitten's paw, golden olive, lightning whelk, angel wings, and more. They are scattered along the shore and sitting atop dry sand, and it's fun to explore the beach when you're keeping an eye out for any exceptionally beautiful shells.
Anytime you're searching for shells, especially with children, there are frequent exclamations of "Wow!" or "Look at this one!" Seashell hunting forces you to be mindful of the beauty of creation. And every few minutes you're reminded of the wonder of it all when you pick up another shell, each one different from the last.
Sometimes you have to sift through piles of broken shells or pick up a pile of dirty seaweed to find the most beautiful treasures underneath. Other shells might be so covered in sand that you can't see their perfect forms until you rinse them off. But once you do, you're awed by their simple beauty and intricate designs.
Life is often like seashell hunting. Once your trip to the beach ends and you're back at home, the only nature around may be your houseplants or the tiny patch of grass on your lot. Even so, you can still find ways to gaze at the wonder of creation while living everyday life.
If you have is a park near your home, walk there in the morning as the sun rises and sit on a bench — or even a swing — as you take in the kaleidoscope of colors. You might live in the suburbs, where green lawns are prevalent but breathtaking views are hundreds of miles away. That's okay. Examine the delicate petals of your pansies, run your fingers through the lush green blades of grass, watch the sun reflect rainbows in the streams of the sprinkler.
You may live in the middle of New York City, where skyscrapers line the sky and concrete rules. God's creation is still there. There's more nature than meets the eye — you might just have to search. Walk to a nearby greenhouse or a garden center and take a stroll through the many types of plants. Find the nearest butterfly exhibit and watch the butterflies soar and dip through the air. God's creation is all around if you're willing to look for it.
Discovering the wonders of creation doesn't always mean climbing to a mountain's peak or venturing to the Grand Canyon. Sometimes, after a little digging, you'll find it in the most unexpected places. Just keep your eyes open.
"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers." — Psalm 24.1-2 ESV
"Hurry up! It's a common phrase" used in our lives today. We hurry to work, hurry to school, hurry through our breakfast and lunch, and we grab dinner on the go. The grocery store has express checkout lines so we can get back on the road at lightning speed. We think the more we can get done by the end of the day, the less stressed we'll feel before closing our eyes at night.
But is it worth it?
We were not created to sprint through every day at breakneck speed or to lie in bed at night with our heads spinning and bodies exhausted. We were not meant to walk around with our shoulders raised to our ears, utterly stressed about all the obligations of today.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Life is Better at the Beach by Christina Vinson. Copyright © 2016 Thomas Nelson. Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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