The beginning of May found us celebrating Renae and her high school graduation. Friends and family gathered with us and shared a lovely evening celebrating this milestone for Renae. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for us and my heart is still singing grateful. We gathered in our backyard, the one with the Kansas grass, and we held a small ceremony and shared some memories and words and cheered for Renae’s hopes, life and dreams!
Below are some of the words we shared. We can’t believe how time rolls together so quickly in one way, so long ago since I held our newborn, in another way!
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{photo credit to Holly D. Photography…….find her on IG here.……..and FB here……..}{Big thanks and shout-out to Holly for capturing the evening in pictures for us} {stickers hand drawn by my niece………find her on IG here.…….}
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As we think back on our story and our lives these last thirteen years we find ourselves asking you…….
If you turned around one day and your bubbly, giggly three-year-old was suddenly a lovely, laughing eighteen-year old, graduating from high school and you wanted to speak words over her, well, what would you say?
What would you say when your heart’s in your throat and the tears will press at the back of your eyelids as a slideshow of memories runs through your mind?
What would you say as you think about the times you failed and the times impatience or anger won out and the many times you felt cut-out all wrong for this parenting thing?
What would you say as you celebrate, commemorate and cheer your child?
What would you say when you remember the little girl going to farm sales with you, ponytails bobbing?
The little girl who couldn’t understand what 0 + 0 equaled.
The little girl who read the BoxCar children about two hundred times, give or take a few and couldn’t really figure out why they like to visit the bump until one day when she realized the “b” she was reading was a “d” and they were actually going to the DUMP to find treasures for their boxcar.
The little girl who pretended and pretended, who would read a story or book and promptly act out the story herself. Who became Mohowat, a little Indian boy missing a hand. Who wrapped her hand up tightly in a rag so she couldn’t use it and learned to shoot her homemade bow and arrow with her feet.
The little girl who checked out most every book from the library about dolphins and killer whales after we watched the movie, Free Willy and was delighted to get a harmonica of her own and fairly certain she was going to be a killer whale trainer someday.
The little girl who had a kindergarten math worksheet to do and each box was supposed to have a number written in it. When her worksheet was checked by her mama, one of the boxes had something indecipherable written in it. Teacher asked the little girl, What is this? And the little girl replied, “It’s trying to be a 2.”
The grumpy little girl one evening who didn’t want to go to bed and said, “I wish I lived by myself.” Knowing her dislike of thunderstorms I asked her “What about when there was a thunderstorm?” She paused and replied, “I hadn’t thought about that!” and then promptly dissolved into a fit of laughter.
The same little girl all snuggled up on the couch while mama rocked her baby brother, who suddenly looked over with big eyes and exclaimed, “I wish you were rocking me!”
What would you say when you look at pictures of the little girl climbing aboard the combine eager to ride, and now you find her seated in the driver’s seat of your semi truck?
What would you say when you pause to ponder that, too often in life, we don’t always say the things that matter most?
What would you say as you feel your family standing on a threshold? As one door edges shut and another opens wide?
What would you say to encourage, inspire and support your turning-adult daughter in her dreams?
What would you say when, while you would never hang on forever, you’re not quite ready to see the years slip by either?
When I first heard the quote, “The days are long, but the years are short,” I readily agreed. It sums it up perfectly.
And if you’re holding a three-year old right now, you might cuddle them a bit closer, because I will assure you, you WILL find yourself turning around much quicker than you anticipated. I won’t guilt you either. Life is life. Demands and schedules and working, caring, providing. I really believe we can never quite savor or enjoy the time we’ve been given as fully as we really want to. That’s why I enjoy quotes and words and reminders like, “Life will not always be as it is today.”
Oh, and if you don’t have a three-year old handy to hug, a two-year old will do nicely as well. 🙂
That brings us back to our question.
What would YOU say?
What would we say?
Here’s a little bit of what we would say and feel, because if we started to list everything we wish for you, Renae Jordan, we would be here far too long!
We’re going to share ten actions and attributes that matter and are guaranteed to make a difference in your story as you live it out, Punky.
Aim for these.
Aim # 1. Knowing Jesus Matters
Philippians 3:10 That I may know Christ and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death.
Ephesians 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know Him better.
Know Jesus. Know Him Better.
Aim # 2. Whole Hearted Devotion Matters
1 Chronicles 29:19
And give my son Solomon the whole hearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.
Our prayer for you, Renae, is to live whole-heartedly devoted in keeping God’s Word and living a life’s story that glorifies Him.
Aim # 3. Righteous Living Matters
Isaiah 32:17
The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.
Upright living frees us from the consequences of sinful choices and pours peace into our lives.
Aim # 4. Truth Matters
Ephesians 6:14
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Acts 17:11
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Etch the noble character of a Berean into your story. Search the Scriptures and stand steadfastly on Truth.
Aim # 5. Integrity Matters
1 Chronicles 29:17
I know my God, that you test hearts and are pleased with integrity.
Proverbs 3:11 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
These synonyms for integrity sum it up well.
Character, decency, goodness, honesty, morality, righteousness, uprightness, virtue.
Aim # 6. Kindness Matters
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.
At the end of Acts 27, we find a shipwrecked Paul and he tells us in Acts 28:1-2
Once safely on shore we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusal kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.
The islanders welcomed Paul and provided care for his physical needs and he calls this unusual kindness.
To those shivering, shaking, shipwrecked men, everyday kindness mattered.
Aim # 7. Gratitude and Giving Matter
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, WITH THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God.
Galatians 6:10
Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers.
Do what you can, when you can, where you can, for who you can.
Aim # 8. Laughter Matters
Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 15:13
A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.
Psalm 126:2-3
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
the Lord has done great things for them. The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy.
Laugh often, long and loud.
Aim # 9. Prayer Matters
Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
Pour your heart out in prayer, in praise, in problems, in pressures. Pray always and always know you are prayed for.
Aim # 10. Today Matters
Psalm 118:24
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!
Acts 20:24
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
Yes, today matters. Actions and attitudes today affect tomorrow’s outcomes. Moments build into hours and hours to days and days to weeks and weeks to years and years become a life and your story.
Today matters. You matter. God has created us, formed us, made us uniquely. Our days matter as we live in the magnificent and the mundane. As we watch the miracle of sunrise and pause to whisper thank-you as the sun sinks into the horizon of blazing color we so easily take for granted. Today matters. Today is a gift and tomorrow waits on no one.
Aim to live out each today in wholehearted righteousness, blossoming forth in truth, integrity, and kindness with gratitude and giving, highlighted with joy and laughter, depending on Jesus in prayer.
We want to say some thank yous. Thanks be unto God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, the One who created each of us, sees our stories and looks deeply into our eyes and says You are Special.
Thank-you to God for redemption, salvation and grace.
And thank-you to God for giving you to us, Renae. We’re so glad He did.
Thank you again to everyone for joining us this evening. Thank-you to each of you for helping make this evening happen. Thanks for coming as guests, for offers of help, for prayers over us.
Whether it was your time, talents, or tea syrup, pictures, plants or paper flowers, cookies, cleaning or cutlery, we are so very grateful for everything you blessed, boosted and bolstered us with! We appreciate it more than we can begin to express!
And finally, Thank-you to you, Renae. Thank-you for all the joy and fun and laughter you have brought into our home. Thank-you for your caring heart, love of Jesus and love of us. Thank-you for teaching {and bossing} your brother, defending your brother and being good friends with your brother.
Thank-you for your creativity, love of pretend and interest in trying new things.
And as a benediction over you, Renae, we’ll read the verse you chose for your graduation invitation ~
Joshua 1:9
Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or terrified, for the Lord your God will be with wherever you go.
Keep opening your Bible, keep trying new things and keep your love of imagination and dreams!
AND, no matter where your story and roads and dreams take you, always, occasionally, follow the dirt road that leads to our front door!
And remember, even when there’s a thunderstorm, you are never alone.
Without further ado, Renae Jordan Flora, we present you with this diploma and a huge heartful and a handful of best wishes and dreams!
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