Wisdom From On High

Believe it or not, homeschooling was not an easy decision for us to make. You would think then that the decision to send our child away to boarding school for high school would have been an even harder choice to make. It was, in fact, easier than you'd think. 

May's graduation service at Luther Prep School was confirmation of this, in case we needed it. 

My niece graduated this year and it's cliche to say it seems like she just started but it's true - it really does seem like that.  
And I think she'd be the first to agree that even at a Christian school, there are social challenges, academic struggles, temptations, and peer pressure. Getting through it all really is an accomplishment, especially when you're that age. As adults, we all know it's really only the beginning of a time when you are making major life decisions with a brain that is still making permanent connections. And drawing from my own experience, it's really by the grace of God that despite some poor choices and lack of wisdom, it really has all worked out - haha! 

Prep's graduation ceremony is actually a church service with a few thousand people. Just try to sing the opening hymn Praise to the Lord, the Almighty without getting goosebumps! 

Instead of a speech it's a sermon. And we didn't hear a typical graduation pep talk about making the most of your life by following your dreams and reaching for the stars and being able to do whatever makes you happy. It's not about making this world a better place or making as much money as you can. 

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." Isaiah 43:1

We are his. We are tools he uses to bring glory to his name, to serve each other and not ourselves. At an overwhelming time in life when everything is changing fast, this is the message I want for my children - for everyone's children. Do not fear, he has bought us back. He calls us by name and we have value and self worth and purpose because we are his. Amen. 

And then the Prep Singers sang this song-

Go get some kleenex. You know you need it.

This wasn't just a message for high school graduates. It was a message for me and for everyone! 

Wisdom From On High. 

We also packed up Will and all his stuff. I was getting nervous the week before when he kept texting me that the was "packing". I put that word in parentheses because I really doubted that what he was doing was going to be helpful at all. It wasn't. It was a mess of things shoved into bags. He had packed school stuff to take home for no reason. All clothes stunk like  - well, you'd know if you've smelled a dorm full of teenage boys. I spent two hours at the local Watertown laundromat washing every single thing he owned that was washable. Let's be honest. I did it for me. Oh, he thanked me and everything. But he would have been just fine storing all those stinky clothes and sheets in a sweltering Rubbermaid container all summer. At least I have the peace of mind that everything will start out clean and that's something, isn't it? 

And - perk - I meant some friendly locals while at the laundromat, checked Facebook and watched episodes of Flipper and Mr. Ed.  

One year down. Three to go!