Graduation day is tough for adults. They go to the ceremony as parents. They come home as contemporaries. After twenty-two years of child-raising, they are unemployed.
~Erma Bombeck
I love Erma Bombeck’s sense of humor. And, the truth in between the humor. On an unusually chilly, windy, and rainy, May Sunday morning, my oldest daughter “walked the lawn” of Thomas Jefferson’s University of Virginia, a longheld tradition for UVA graduates. Throngs of people crowded walkways, making it very difficult to manuever. I asked one of the groundskeepers how many people they expected to have at the graduation and she said, “30,000 . . . we’ve been setting up seats for hours. And, we will have to take them down.” All I could do was say, “Bless you. Thank you. WOW!”
There were many moments in this important day, but the one special moment I will forever hold in my heart is seeing my daughter in the distance – her hand waving the “I LOVE YOU” sign – amid hundreds of black mortar board caps and gowns. Our eyes met, our smiles shared, and our hearts merged, yet again, in a beautiful moment of mother-daughter joy. Be still my heart. Through the years, the “I LOVE YOU” sign has become our family symbol. We raise it high in the sky whenever we leave each other, as a reminder of the powerful bond we share as a family.
It was a long day, but a great day. Every time I felt I couldn’t take another step, I remembered one thing. Next year I will have time to rest. Lots of time. She will be an ocean away. So, soak up every little moment. Dig deep. Pray for energy. Be watchful. Breathe. Love.
May God give us strength to be the mothers he has called and created us to be. Every minute of every day. Tomorrow, I move forward in graduation week by preparing memory tables for my twins senior tables. One down, Two to go. Even though I am swimming in scrapbook materials, years of photographs and overwhelming preparations for graduation and post graduation parties, I am praying for time to slow down. I am praying for emotional strength to soak it all in.
P.S. And, as a result of all this, I urge you to do one more thing. Don’t take so many pictures! Do we really need 100 photographs of every childhood event? What was I thinking! (Smile)
Graduation Day is tough for parents. Certainly, everyone is relieved that every test was passed, all the bills were paid, and no one fell into a life-changing sin in high school or college! But, as the student is setting out on the big adventure called life, the parents are left feeling like their adventure has ended. Oh, we MUST get over this silly thought! In the providence of God, He has seen us through this journey, and the Holy Mapquest is printing out for the next!
God bless you, Janell. The kids have graduated, you have been the most wonderful Mom. (And, of course, Rob is the best Dad those kids could ever have.) Now, press in, and press on.
Your new adventure awaits you!
I love you dearly,
Sherri
Dear, dear Sherri! Oh, your words are a sweet drink of cold ice water right now. After the twins graduated on Friday night, I felt so many deep-seated emotions. Right now, we’re chaperoning their “BEACHFEST” week on the Outer Banks, so I am breathing deep, walking and renewing my fatigued spirit, soul, and body. I am seeking the Lord on my new adventure, for sure. HE IS FAITHFUL. We know that. Lots of love and hugs, Janell