Romans 12:12

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Every day we are faced with decisions. Some are easy and require little thought. Others require more thought and are often made bases on knowledge or advice of others. Some decisions are made from ignorance, others are made with faith.

In May, we have many kids graduating from high school or college. This is a time that I recall making some of the hardest decisions of my life. Where will I go, will I know anybody at the school I choose, how will it feel to be on my own, and the list goes on. For some these decisions are easy, for others they are unclear. For some these decisions are easy, for others they are unclear. I remember the fear as my parents dropped me off and left me alone, knowing not one other person at the school I chose. I remember feeling overwhelmed by the volume of work placed before me within the first few days of school. I remember feeling ignorant because there were so many things I did not know and had no one to ask. I remember the anxiety of tests and grades and just simply, was I going to survive until the end!

This month I am celebrating the graduation of one of my own children. I realize how she had same questions and fears. I have watched her navigate through road blocks placed in the way of her goal along the way and how she took another path and kept moving forward. Just watching her sheer determination has made me proud. It was tough watching her struggle at times, listening to her cry with frustration and exhaustion. I cried along with her many times when she questioned “why?” But she never gave up! She always had hope, through the good days and bad days. She conquered this goal, closing this chapter, and ready to start another.

I think this is exactly how God feels. He hears us crying out, he watches over us as we struggle, he is there for us when we need a listening ear. He rejoices with us when we conquer our goals.