To My Graduate

-
Tomorrow is Graduation Day.


I keep looking back and remembering...
the excitement of expecting you, our first child,
bringing you home from the hospital,
snuggling you close in our bed and nursing you in the dark of night,
all those firsts -- a smile, rolling over, crawling, walking, talking,
and the toddler years through the school years.

Those years slipped away each one sliding by faster than the last.
You filled them with blessings,
and gave us more than we've ever given you.   
The joy and love and pride we feel when we look at you
is something money will never buy.

Now it is time to look forward.
We pray for you as you venture out on your own.

Your dad challenged you the other day. 
He is a man of wisdom.

"Listen, my son, to your father's instruction..."
(Prov. 1:8a)

His prayer for you is much the same as Paul's prayer for Timothy, and I join him in that prayer.

"We thank God, whom we serve, as night and day we constantly remember you in our prayers.  
When you are away we will long to see you.
  We give thanks for your sincere faith that has been passed down to you by your parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and great-great grandparents.
  We pray you will fan into flame the faith that is burning in your heart.
  May you not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.
  Amen."
  (Taken from Paul's words in II Timothy 1.)

"Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit that lives in us." (II Timothy 1:14)

"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."  (II Timothy 2:1)

"Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus."  (II Timothy 2:3)

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."  (II Timothy 2:15)

"Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.  And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful." (II Timothy 2 :23,24)

May you be able to at the end of your life say these words of Paul:
"I have fought the good fight,
 I have finished the race,
 I have kept the faith.
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."  (II Timothy 4:7,8)

We love you, Ryan.

Congratulations!

May God go with you!





 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Skillet Zucchini and Hamburger

-
Image
My garden is producing peppers, onions, and zucchini and yellow squash right now.  I ran across this recipe, and the kids thought it was great.  They liked it much better then the way I had fixed the zucchini previously in a similar recipe with diced tomatoes instead of spaghetti sauce. What You Need: 1 lb ground chuck 2 lb zucchini or yellow squash, chopped in bite size pieces 1 green or red bell pepper, chopped 1 large onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 26 ounce jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves 1/2 teaspoon black pepper salt to taste What To Do: 1.  Brown ground chuck with onion and bell pepper in a large skillet.  Drain grease. 2.  Add garlic and seasonings.  Stir. 3.  Add zucchini and stir.  Cover with lid and cook over medium heat for approximately 15 minutes until zucchini is crisp tender.  Stir about every 5 minutes. 4....
Read more

When You Have To Let Go

-
Image
Heartache.  Deep, painful, agonizing heartache.  For a season that felt like it would never end, I carried a weight of anguish that tore at my very soul.  Parenting had been the source of immense joy for me, but at the same time there came with it intense sorrow.    Learning to handle this heartache is something that for me personally both challenged and grew my faith.  During this time I learned to appreciate the words of Psalm 77.  The lament of the Psalmist was much the same as my own heart cry to God.  It says,  I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me.  In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. You hold my eyelids open ; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I consider the days of old, the years long ago. I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in...
Read more

My Battle with Depression

-
Image
"Your Mom is not the same person she was," I overheard my husband explain to one of our boys. Our son wistfully replies, "I hope she gets better soon." My tears flowed.  I was not sure I would ever be better.  How does a broken heart heal?  How is one ever the same after they are broken? Each day I rose early.  In the stillness of the morning, I sought strength from above.  I never wanted to leave the quiet.  I wanted to stay here reading His Word and praying.  But...children awoke, meals needed fixed, laundry begged washing, and somehow I walked through each day.  However, I lived angry inside...angry that my solitude had been disturbed. The reality of my life was depression.  A depression that would not loosen its grip. It took me a long time to acknowledge it though. Over a year before my medical doctor had suggested to me that I take an anti-depressant.  I had gone in for unexplained aching and fatigue in my body. ...
Read more