The band is ready to play “Pomp and Circumstance” for the next round of graduates entering the auditorium. Class of 2016. Someone stated there were three million high school graduates this year in the United States. The future for many of the graduates will be more years of education, though for all, they will continue to learn. Some in their first job. The military. School. But each one, at life.

 

I remember my high school graduation clearly. We’d moved our tassels from right to left. The audience applauded our class. People slowly filed out of the gymnasium. I stood there in that room for the last time as a student. I didn’t know what to do. There I was, in the midst of people clapping their hands on backs of grads. No one came to me. They were waiting for me outside in the vestibule, but I didn’t know that. Finally, I realized no one was going to come to me, so I turned in my cap and gown, and met my family. I was a high school graduate now, but that didn’t mean I always knew what to do.

In a blink of an eye, high school was over and the next stage of life began. College. An exciting announcement of engagement to my guy. Marriage. Births. Child rearing. Soon my children began to complete their high school education and get married, have children of their own. Now their children are graduating.

How can all of this happen so quickly? At times, life slowly grinds its way through the muddiness of life. Other times it darts quickly, like a hummingbird flitting through the flowers. He’s there one moment, and then with a buzzing of  its wings, gone. There are glorious sunrises and pearly gray ones. Astounding rainbow displays. Colorful sunsets. Moments of toil at home or work. Grinding sameness of meal preparation and clean up, or another day at work. Ecstatic joy infused with delight. Then time for good-byes begin. First it’s the grandparents. Slowly, one by one, our parents enter eternity. Then spouses, even children. But there’s more. There are new-born babies. Delightful toddlers who are excited to see their grandparents and the chance be with them in their car. There are the noisy middlers who are always hungry and waiting for the next adventure: Food. A bike ride. A book to read. A movie to watch. Then they’re teens. Not so interested in visiting their grandparents anymore. They’re busy texting their friends. Cramming for an exam. Going to baseball, basketball, football or track practice. Getting to youth group at church. Experiencing their first crush and suffering real heartbreak and love. Yes, a 16 year old can love and their hearts can hurt.

This week, we sat and reminisced as we waited in the crowded arena for the graduates to file in. We listened to speeches. We waited for his name to be called. At last we hear it: Austyn James Mozena. Grandchild number six to complete high school.

We have such hope for each of our seventeen grandchildren. Yes, I said seventeen. It’s a blended family and we believe who was once his and once mine is now ours. That means seventeen. We pray they will continue to grow and develop as they have already and stay the course. We want them to succeed in school and in life, but more than that, we pray their faith in Christ will remain strong.

I love what the Apostle Paul prayed for the Christians in Ephesus and I don’t think I can go wrong modeling my prayer after his for our kids and grands. You can pray this prayer for yours, too.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power…together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ….Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen
(Ephesians 3: 16-18a, 20)

That is my wish for you: Taylor, Rebekah, Tucker, Kennedy, Sarah, Austyn, Andrew, Caleb, Haley, Annabel, Cole, Emily, Landon, Rowan, Olivia, Meghan, and Rosalie. May you each know how wide, how long, high and deep is the love of Christ for you. I can’t ask for anything more.