Pomp And Circumstance

For high school Seniors, that long-awaited day is almost here: Graduation! This is my 14th year of teaching high school, and in those years, I have never missed a Graduation ceremony. In fact, I have had the privilege of calling the Graduates names as they walk across the stage for the past few years. As I watch each one walk up to the stage, my memories of their four years in high school splash across my mind like a movie on a Big Screen. It is pure joy to see how they have transformed from clumsy freshmen into young adults. I can only imagine the memories that flood the Moms in the audience. I see it in their tears. Those have to be some of the most mixed emotions Moms ever experience. Those tears represent pride, happiness, and sadness, all at the same time. Just how difficult is it for a Mom to have to let go of her little boy or girl? This is that moment when the parent must stop giving roots and start giving wings.

How hard was it for Mary and Joseph to give their little Jesus wings? We know from Scripture that both Mary and Joseph knew that they were chosen by God for the awesome duty of raising the Messiah. But just how hard was it for Mary to change from viewing Jesus as her little boy to viewing Him as her Savior? That had to be the hardest "Graduation" any Mom has ever experienced! But the day did come when she had to let Him transform from being her son into being The Son Of Man. And in the same way, we must also allow our lives to transform from being ours to being His. When we accept Christ, we "graduate" to the greatest level of our Spiritual lives. We must completely let go of our old self, and allow the Holy Spirit to take over our new self. We must truly let go, and let God! Have you Graduated to Christ? It is a time of great joy!

3 John 1:4 says, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

Father, be with the many Seniors and their parents as they come to this chapter in their lives. Teach us that we must all Graduate to Your will. In Jesus name, Amen.