Commencement

Yesterday (Sunday) we had a graduation party at the farm where I board Jo.  One of our own graduated from high school in the Class of 2023. She has been with us since she was about 7, and we have watched her grow from a precious child into a poised young woman.  She received a generous, well-deserved financial aid package to attend college at a small private school in our state where she will get a fine education. We have her for the summer to help with horsey day camps and ride training horses.  It is easy to celebrate her graduation as she has the intelligence, work ethic, and ambition to chase her dream of becoming a lawyer.

I remember thinking of my H.S. graduation as an "end". The end of my time living at 'home' full time. The end of growing up in my small southern town. The end of life as I had known it to that point.  With the perspective of years, I can see that it was the "beginning" of life outside my childhood cocoon. While I was slow to claim my independence from my lonely, widowed mother, I started a journey that would carry me into the marriage and life I was meant to live.

Prayer for this Season of Graduations

Lord Jesus, draw near to those who are graduating this spring. Help them as they begin college or jobs or travel or partnerships or whatever comes next. Hold them in Your care through these bittersweet days of saying goodbye and forging a path forward. Send them forth with the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit to make the world a better place. Sustain them through disappointments; shield them through times of joy. May the energy and optimism of our young friends and family bring peace to our world and help to relieve suffering in its many forms. In Your holy name we pray.

Amen

P.S. We are heading to the lake tomorrow.  I will be back at the end of the week. Take good care.