Yesterday, as we were re-siding the boathouse, I noticed what looked like an old birds nest up in the eaves. I reached up and pulled it down and found this....
What a surprise!! I put it gently back up in the eaves and we continued on with our work.
The next day, I just had to see what was going on in that nest and found this....
It reminded me of the kids graduating and getting ready to "leave the nest" to start a new chapter in their lives. It reminded me of my own journey of leaving the nest 1000 years ago.....the mistakes made and the lessons learned. And much like these baby birds who are blindly starting this life, so are those graduating from the comfort of depending on others (parents, teachers, etc.).
Please appease me with one last piece of advice.....
Dear Graduate,
As you prepare to cross that long stage in front of your family and friends and eagerly close one chapter and open the next, there are a couple of things this old lady whose tassel was moved from the right to the left many years ago would like for you to know:
Be An Individual. There is a reason you are alive. This culture we live in makes it far too easy to look alike, act alike and believe alike. Discover who YOU are.....and don't be afraid to be different. That goofy graduation cap on your head is a ticket to life. You can stand out and you can be the change you wish to see in the world. Learn to fly solo......
Help Others. We all have a calling in life. And if there's one lesson I've learned over all others, it's that we are placed on this earth to help other people. In the book The Original Human Dilemma (2004), supposedly in hell, they sit around a great pot, all hungry, because the spoons they hold are too long to bring the food to their mouths. In heaven, people are sitting around the same pot with the same long spoons, but everyone is full. Why? Because in heaven, everyone uses their long spoons to feed one another.
Don't Let Technology Be Your God. As someone who is writing this to you from her laptop with her cell phone charging as she types with buds in her ears, I know a bit about this subject. Techno-gadgets are merely distractions.....just look around you....even us old people have made our phones our god. If you are going to make a difference.....put down the cell, take the buds out and spend less time in front of the screen. Put Real Life First.
Place God as the Driver of Your Life. Really hear this....NOTHING else matters if you don't have God as your Driver. You are traveling down the Highway Of This World at a rapid speed. GET OFF....NOW. There are exit ramps along the way and they lead to a narrow, difficult and rarely traveled path. But this path is unlike the highway that leads to certain death and an eternity in hell....the narrow path leads you HOME. Yes....you will most likely arrive home sore, scratched and tired from the bumps along the way, but you will LIVE to see Home.
And be happy......as God intended you to be!
The next day, I just had to see what was going on in that nest and found this....
Please appease me with one last piece of advice.....
Dear Graduate,
As you prepare to cross that long stage in front of your family and friends and eagerly close one chapter and open the next, there are a couple of things this old lady whose tassel was moved from the right to the left many years ago would like for you to know:
Be An Individual. There is a reason you are alive. This culture we live in makes it far too easy to look alike, act alike and believe alike. Discover who YOU are.....and don't be afraid to be different. That goofy graduation cap on your head is a ticket to life. You can stand out and you can be the change you wish to see in the world. Learn to fly solo......
Help Others. We all have a calling in life. And if there's one lesson I've learned over all others, it's that we are placed on this earth to help other people. In the book The Original Human Dilemma (2004), supposedly in hell, they sit around a great pot, all hungry, because the spoons they hold are too long to bring the food to their mouths. In heaven, people are sitting around the same pot with the same long spoons, but everyone is full. Why? Because in heaven, everyone uses their long spoons to feed one another.
Don't Let Technology Be Your God. As someone who is writing this to you from her laptop with her cell phone charging as she types with buds in her ears, I know a bit about this subject. Techno-gadgets are merely distractions.....just look around you....even us old people have made our phones our god. If you are going to make a difference.....put down the cell, take the buds out and spend less time in front of the screen. Put Real Life First.
Place God as the Driver of Your Life. Really hear this....NOTHING else matters if you don't have God as your Driver. You are traveling down the Highway Of This World at a rapid speed. GET OFF....NOW. There are exit ramps along the way and they lead to a narrow, difficult and rarely traveled path. But this path is unlike the highway that leads to certain death and an eternity in hell....the narrow path leads you HOME. Yes....you will most likely arrive home sore, scratched and tired from the bumps along the way, but you will LIVE to see Home.
And be happy......as God intended you to be!
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7 comments:
This is so good!!!!
LeeAnn
What a special Graduate letter! I'm going to send it from you (and me) to some of my young friends who are stretching their wings and about to try flying (or falling, whichever it ends up being). Graduation was scary for me at 16 and then again at 20. You and I will likely graduate a few more times before we arrive at the Place of no fear. And, like you said, we will sign up again to minister to others, and love doing it!!
Love you much,
Chloanne
Beautiful words for these kiddos!!
Wise and beautiful words liz. Love it.
Thank you Liz!! I am making sure all of our grads have this bulletin as a keepsake❤❤treasure full of wisdom! Love you!
Beautiful words.
what interesting stories...ones to make us think of our attitudes today. You write the neatest stuff...thanks.
ant ellie
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