Mabry's Graduation

These next two weeks are Graduation Season. What a special time for so many. It seems surreal that our middle child is graduating from high school. I’m so proud of Mabry and all the high school and college graduates at church and in our community. What a great accomplishment and a big milestone in their lives as well as for all us parents. This is just the beginning of all that God will do in their lives for His glory.

Recently, we celebrated our Graduates on a Sunday Morning. As I looked at these incredible students, I stood in awe of God’s goodness and grace in their lives and in the life of our church. This is such an incredible class of students, with 60 graduates heading off to colleges all across our country and others going into great careers. Every graduate has a story of hard work, but also of God’s amazing grace in their life. Just the opportunity to go to school and graduate sets them apart, but also being in church and having a spiritual foundation as they go forward in life.

On Mother’s Day, we just celebrated Family Dedication. As I looked at their precious young babies, I thought about dedicating Mabry to the Lord. Standing with Lisa and holding Mabry in my arms as we dedicated her in front of our church family, just seems like yesterday. For all the parents reading this, embrace every moment you have been given with your child. It goes so fast. Don’t wish time away, but use every moment to love, teach and help them know Jesus. One day, they will be out on their own, so this is your time.

If you are a parent or grandparent, then as a parent of a graduate, let me encourage you to:

1. Pray boldly over them - Let them see you and hear you pray.

2. Bring them to church - Sports, school and activities are great, but church is essential.

3. Buy your kids an age-appropriate Bible - Give them God’s Word and help them read it.

4. Check their phones - If you pay for it, check it. We all need accountability

5. Know their friends - They will become like the kids they hang out with. 

After addressing high school graduates one Sunday morning, a mom went home to her family and made her high school students (who didn’t come with her that morning) gather at the table and watch the entire sermon online. She said it gave them amazing talking points as a family - link to watch here!

The Bible tells us: “Train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6. You have a short amount of time. This sets the direction for the rest of their lives. Be intentional. Don’t miss an opportunity. Pour Christ and your heart into your kids.

I can’t believe Mabry is graduating. I am definitely going to miss her. I’ll miss our time together, watching her play sports, doing homework together, driving her around, praying over her at night, watching movies, laughing and all the snuggles and hugs. She is an incredible, and I’m so proud of Mabry and the godly woman she has become (I’m tearing up just typing this). I know God will do great things through her and all these high school graduates. I am praying for them and cheering them on as they live their lives for Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, for these graduates.