Lauren's Graduation

Nothing was going to ruin my day – not the threat of rain, the traffic, or even the fact that I had brought my three-year-old granddaughter, Adeline, to a college graduation. Adeline’s mother, Lauren, had insisted her child be there to watch her graduate.

            I chose to look at all the cars moving slowly through Hammond as a good thing. Like my family, thousands of people had dedicated the morning to support their graduate. Each graduate’s story is different. For Lauren, the degree marked the end of a college education put on pause in the last semester by the birth of her daughter. My husband, Michael, never gave up on the dream that Lauren would finish college, but I thought that her job as a single mother was enough of a challenge.

When she decided to return to school, Lauren had the support of her entire family, but we were useless when it came to Calculus. Before the first class, she contacted her high school Math teacher, Mary Smith, who agreed to tutor Lauren. Miss Smith became an invaluable part of Lauren’s success.

As the graduates filed into Southeastern’s University Center that morning, somewhere among the thousands of people who filled it, my mom was crying as she always does when she hears Pomp and Circumstances. Michael was crying, too, and Adeline was watching as her Nanny ‘Lise pointed out Lauren in the crowd.

 To Lauren and to the Class of 2015, Congratulations! Your degree is the crown of years devoted to your education; however, I hope it is not the end. Keep learning and continue to keep your eyes open to knowledge.

            A survey revealed that one-third of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives and 42 percent of college graduates never read another book after college. I hope the Class of 2015 does their job to improve these statistics. Be good stewards of the brain God issued to you and never stop learning. Above all, place the Word of God on your "Must Read" list of books.

Just as important as the lessons you’ve learned in the classroom are the ways you’ve grown as a person, the friendships you have formed, and the deeper understanding you have acquired of yourself and others. Remember the love of your family and friends.  Remember your own sacrifices and hard work.  And remember God really does have a special plan for your life.

God has blessed you with unique talents and abilities. Use those gifts well. Eric Liddell discovered one of his talents on the track. Running was his favorite sport and he excelled at it.  He said, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure." 

Prepared to run the 100 meter race in the 1924 Olympics, he was Britain's hope for winning a gold medal. However, Liddell dropped out of the race because it was scheduled on a Sunday and he refused saying, "Sunday is for worshipping God, not sports." Instead, he qualified for the 400 meter race to be run on another day. He not only won that race, but set a world record in the process.

This graduation milestone marks another leg of your race; the end of one endeavor and the beginning of your next. May the future hold many new joys and accomplishments and be a continuation of all of the good things you have already achieved.