The Perfect Night | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

The Perfect Night

How Men Showed They Cared

21
The Perfect Night
Pexels

You can almost feel all the jaws dropping as the lady staff of Summit California 2016 enters the annex area where the men have set up tables, chairs, painting supplies, lighting, food, and music for Ladies' Appreciation Night. Maybe that's because your jaw is dropping, too. It's beautiful, thoughtful, intentional, and all for you.

Don't get me wrong, we girls didn't do a half bad job for Men's Appreciation Night a few days prior, but this blew us out of the water by a long shot. Over and beyond, more than we could have imagined, let alone ask for. The men picked us up after a long day at the park, dressed in suits and ties, put us on their arms, and walked us down the road to our destination as live musicians sprinted to keep up with us along the way. They complimented us constantly using both cheesy pick up lines but also genuine observations about what they appreciated about us individually. They served us humbly and gratefully, never failing to help us with anything we could possibly need and encourage us as some of our poor artistic skills were realized. Two of the guys did a spin on Bob Ross (with a French accent!) and kept us smiling every minute. One of my guy friends wrote a speech about how much all the guys loved us, noticed us, and thanked God for us, and every girl went, "Aww," at least a dozen times. At the end of the night, every guy went to every girl to give her a hug and say thanks for all they did to pour out onto the students and each other. Even the guys that aren't into much hugging went out of their way to make sure every girl felt loved and wanted. We were escorted back around 12:30 a.m. and fell into our beds exhausted but more content and emotionally refreshed than we have been in maybe all the two weeks we have been here.

Summit Ministries is a fantastic program designed to help the young adults of our generation learn about the biblical worldview, why it matters, and how it can be applied. I was a student myself two summers ago, and came back to staff this year. My small group of 15 year old girls is not at all what I expected, but exactly the challenge God had for me coming into this new chapter of my life. They are a privilege to mentor and serve, but definitely a lot of responsibility as well. Sometimes caring so much about 8 people leaves little room to take care of yourself, and it is easy to become overwhelmed and feel isolated, even in a room of people you know love you and would do anything to make your life easier. The Summit staff this year has truly become a family, and I am going to miss them so much. But this night, this wonderful night of what it means to be pursued and loved and cared for, of what Christ gives His bride daily, of how we can show that we appreciate each other... this one I will remember until I am physically unable to, as my friend stated.

It's not hard to show you care. A few genuine words, intentional sentiment, and hearty laughs goes such a long way. Write a note of encouragement to someone you love today. Pour some sparkling cider, share stories, and live well.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

934
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

562
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199654
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20551
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments