Tag Archives: graduation

Pandemic Guidelines: Separated -By Karla

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Graduation Seating

As I looked upon a graduation field, I saw the candidates were adhering to the pandemic guidelines with chairs spaced the correct distance. Noticing the parents in the stands, they were spread appropriately six feet apart too. While the students were presented with their diplomas, I observed the principal and students elbow bump rather than shaking hands. Although their faces were masked, their pride was conveyed in their stride. Only my nephew’s mom and dad were allowed in the stadium. The rest of the family was left watching on a TV in the front yard of my sister’s house with space between our chairs. 

Sci-Fi?

All this separation. I keep feeling like we are in a sci-fi movie. Everyone standing and sitting far from each other adorning masks to block “the sickness”. Every good movie has a villain. In my imagination, this one is a huge metal-made, silver dinosaur-looking monster invading our planet with a virus that will destroy the world as we know it. 

The Real Enemy

Presently, we are guarding ourselves against the enemy, Covid-19. However, how well are we at guarding ourselves against the true enemy, Satan, who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). His desire is to completely separate us from God.

We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23), and these sins separate us from God (Isaiah 59:2).

Satan separates us from God by confusing us about what is right and wrong. At times, we let the world’s culture define what is and isn’t sin. Truth is found in God’s word, not trends of the times. How will we know the truth if we spend more time with worldly things than in the presence of God? We don’t get to choose what is sin in God’s eyes, and we cannot rationalize sin into “right”. Oh, we try justifying what we have done by comparing our actions to others’, minimizing its wrongness, avoiding what is true, or blaming our actions on others. However, sin is sin to God! 

Ultimate Separation

Many believe we are Christians because we know who God is, but there is more. God longs for a relationship with us. In Matthew 7:22-23 the ultimate separation is foretold, “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 

I don’t know about you, but I am NOT loving this separated life. I miss hugging on my family and patting my students on the shoulder, and I do not like sitting six feet apart and wearing a mask that keeps others from seeing me smile. But when I sin, I am separating myself from God. He cannot hug on me in the way He wants because I have separated myself from Him. God is the one being we do not have to stay 6 feet from, it is our choice as to how close we get to him?

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Graduation: That Time of Year! -By Karla

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A Quick Refresh in Time for Graduation

By the first post planning day, I wanted a nap. But a nap was not in my time frame as it was graduation evening for Tucker, Donna’s youngest. So, I ran into the house, dabbed a light layer of makeup over the faded one and slung my head upside-down. Adding some fluff into my hair that had been in a ponytail all day, I turned on the blow dryer and began moving my hands through the strands. I jerked off my clothes and grabbed a dress to shimmy on. Fastening the buckle on my shoes, I snatched a granola bar and some water, and I ran to the car. I reminisced of past graduations on my drive to Rome, Georgia. Since this generation started graduating, this is the twelfth family ceremony. Luckily, several of the kids graduated at the same rituals!

Concerned

I reached into the pocketbook to feel for some lipstick when I realized my purse did not match my sandals. Oh, great! That’s not good. At the red light near the auditorium, I texted Donna, “Mom would not be happy with my shoes and purse situation.” She replied, “Mine doesn’t match either and just from looking around the parking lot, I think I’m over-dressed!”.

Sitting down, it did not take me long to understand what she meant. Donna and I have had a fascination with people watching since our teenage years. I forgot my faux pas shoe/purse issue as we watched the crowds fill up the thousands of seats. We exchanged glances as pink hair and multiple-tattooed bodies meandered in. We eyed each other when there was too much skin showing. Our heads turned toward each other when we saw a man dressed in gym shorts with cowboy boots! We needed no words to convey the look of “something’s not right here! What happened to the days when people dressed up for special events?”

Restless

It took little time for my near fifty-year-old derriere and back to wish they would get the show on the road! Beginning his speech, the principal quickly realized he was addressing a different group of people, and he quickly apologized. There were a few more chuckles when he asked for no explosions of excitement or artificial noisemakers. Honestly, I was growing a little impatient for the whole ceremony to be over.

Educated in America

The crowd was noisy until a young lady walked up to the microphone and began to sing our national anthem. She had such power and strength in her voice, which snapped me back into the significance of the moment. Our youth are so privileged to live and be educated in America. As she sang, my thoughts fled for a moment to the sixth grader, who was from Uzbekistan, that I taught several years before. God love him; during his first four years of schooling, he use a stick and dirt as his writing supplies. As the young lady walked back to her seat, my thoughts were brought back to the present as the principal shared how her father, who was overseas serving in the military, would be so proud. (Though, I was a little confused as to why there was no flag in sight.) The band then played, and I smiled as I recognized the notes to “Take My Hand, Precious Lord”. As a Christian, I am so pleased, when the growing minority, is able to share out beliefs.

Extraordinary Effort

After a few speeches, the graduates began walking across the stage. Toward the R’s or S’s, I noticed a graduate pushing a wheelchair up the ramp in which sat a young boy dressed in his cap and gown. Though I had not an inkling of why he was in the wheelchair, I knew the magnitude of this moment. He rose, and the crowd stood immediately. He leaned on a peer and struggled successfully across the entire stage. The cheers respectfully boomed as he fought his way to the superintendent to receive his diploma. It was an incredibly wonderful interruption of the ceremony.

Tassels switched sides, caps were tossed, and chaos commenced as families found their graduate. Smiles and pictures. Then Donna shared, “He was diagnosed with cancer when he was about eleven. One leg and arm was amputated. He doesn’t use a prosthetic leg, but wanted to walk across the stage tonight.” Softy, she added, “A recent article in the newspaper stated that his cancer is back, and he has decided not to fight it.”

God, forgive us for taking so many things for granted: freedom to pray, public education, and health .God, gives us a heart to help those in need of a smile to encourage, not just on special days, but the ordinary too.

And so, while Donna and I went in for a sneak-attack-kiss-picture with Tucker, I realized that all twelve of these ceremony moments should never be taken for granted.

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Graduation: “Well, Gotta Go” -By Donna

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My youngest,

They say there is something special about the oldest child. Not that they are loved anymore than the others, but after all, they turn you into a parent. Your sister Emily did just that. So many first with her; first labor pains, first steps, first words, first day of kindergarten, first sport game, first broken heart, and the list could go on and on and on. Travis, being the first boy, let me enjoy all the “boy” firsts. The first BB gun, Power Rangers, and a different kind of potty training. Unfortunately being the youngest of three, you were always last. Last to loose teeth, last to ride without training wheels, last to get your driver’s license, and last to graduate high school. I had already experienced most first motherhood moments with your siblings. But there is something you get to be first at; catapulting me into a new chapter in my life.

Changes Ahead

In four short days you will walk across the stage to receive your high school diploma.  When the other two graduated, I had no tears. I felt excitement for their upcoming adventures. You, my last born, will be different. When you move your tassel from right to left, the role that I have played since your sister began kindergarten will cease. Through the past nineteen years, I have always had a child in school. There were field trips, class parties, folders to sign, homework, spend the night parties, picture days, projects. and more. I realize my role as mom isn’t over, but it will be different.

For the most part, I usually know where you are and who you are with. I know what you are doing and how you are. But as you enter this next phase, I may not always be privy to this information. You will begin living your life more independently. I am aware of this because I have already experienced it twice. The difference with them was, I still had you to fill my maternal itch while they were away.

They Saved the Best for Last

So just as Emily’s arrival changed my life twenty-four years ago, so does your departure from high school. Don’t be surprised when the lady who never cries, has a hard time helping you tie your tie. When you walk out the door Friday night saying your standard, “Well, gotta go” line as you leave the house, those words will have a greater magnitude. You are my baby and the last to go. Sometimes I watch you sleep, and I still see you little. If I could push the pause button of life I would. But I know you are eager to move ahead. So walk proudly my son Tucker. As you cross the stage, my eyes may water a bit. But I will smile knowing what your witty mind will be thinking about being the youngest…”They saved the best for last.”

—-Donna

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