Graduation

Originally written May 2005 for First Lutheran Church, Morris, MN - "First Things"

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you have learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Graduation is upon us! As I prepare to see my first son graduate it is a frightening thought. When he started kindergarten (such a short time ago, it seems) someone made the comment, "Ah, he's no longer yours. He belongs to the world now." I thought it was an odd statement considering he was just starting kindergarten - and half days at that! But looking back, I understand the comment. As our children grow, our influence becomes less and less. The world of school, friends, and activities becomes more and more important.

Our relationships with each other change and grow. In August, when I send my son off to college, our relationship will forever change. Yes, he'll return home from time to time but it will not be the same. Changes are already setting in. When Erik bought his first coar and took out his first loan, he asked me, "Mom, did I do the right thing?" I told him that I couldn't answer that anymore. And I can't. The decisions are his to make.

I can give him advice and help him see all sides of an issue. I can be there to listen and be a sounding board. I can be his cheerleader or give him a shoulder to cry on and a warm hug for encouragement. But I can't tell him what to do anymore. That role now belongs solely to God.

For those of us who have grown beyond an age where our earthly parents make decisions for us, God remains our loving parent who provides us with direction. He sends us out into the world with the scriptures as our guide, our brothers and sisters in Christ as our support, and the Holy Spirit to whisper in our ears when we need a friendly word of encouragement. Sometimes the decisions we need to make are clearly right or wrong. Sometimes there isn't a clear right or wrong answer, just one that is more right for us at the time. Those are the times the decision gets difficult. But even at those times, God is with us. He stands by our side, takes our hand when we need it, and slowly and patiently guides us into making a good decision.

Each day we graduate into a new day. Each day God sends us out to love and serve him. Each day we are called to "...continue in what you have learned and firmly believed..."

When I teach the 2nd graders about their new Bibles, I remind them that the Bible is a living book. It is the only book they will ever own which will grow with them.

It is God's living Word, active in our lives. God's Word is new everyday. It is "...inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness..." It is the guidebook we take through our lives as we graduate and go out into the world.

Through the hearing and study of God's Word, and by prayerful consideration, God is able to help us make the decisions we need to make. It is his way of giving us good advice. We may not choose to follow that advice - and that's why we need God's grace - for all the times we choose to ignore God's direction.

God is and always will be our most perfect loving parent. He gives us direction. He encourages us. He stands beside us. He fights for us. When we ignore him, he forgives us and offers us his grace.

Yes, my son does now truly belong to the world - God's world. And if he, and the rest of us, 'continue in what we have learned and firmly believe, knowing from whom we have learned it, and how from childhood we have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct us for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.... we may truly be proficient and equipped for every good work.