From the moment I first saw you, you were smiling. You were the happiest baby I’ve ever met.
When you were born, the first thing I noticed about you was your perfectly shaped lips. Lips that would grow to be encouraging, funny and say some of the most quick witted comments. You have made us laugh and given us such joy.
I remember when you were about 3 or 4, you would always just do whatever your big sis suggested. If we would ask where you girls wanted to eat, sissy would pick for both of you. For years you just went along with it. It became such a habit that you would agree to everything that sissy said. It hit me one day, seeing you not really enjoying yourself, but just going along to keep everyone happy. That’s when I had to specifically ask you if that’s what you really wanted to do. I had to make you, force you, to decide for yourself what you wanted.
I want you to know, you should not try to blend in, when you were born to stand out! Your opinion matters! We love you and we want you to express your desires. When you can’t trust yourself to make the “right decision” pray about it. The best part is you don’t have to have all the answers. The Lord has it figured out. You owe the world your gifts! Show them what you’ve got!
I have learned so much about life and people from watching you and how you interact with them. You are brave. Not everyone saw the brave, but I did. Even on the hard days, you kept going. You are a fighter and a giver.
Your graduation from high school may feel bittersweet, but this is not an ending. This is a beginning! From little on, you have enjoyed learning, but you can’t learn anything, if you stop moving forward. You can’t start something new, if you don’t end something.
Ahead is the next thing. Ahead puts the past behind us. Ahead is where change happens. You are equipped with all that you need to go into this world. You have all that you need in the Lord.
Things will feel different after graduation, but only for a little while. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and don’t expect to change the world! That’s too big a burden. Just change the world around you!
“Try to see the world not as it is, but how it could be.” You can’t change the world by looking at it, you can only change the world by living in it. You are going to go right, when the world is going left. Just when you think you have it figured out, you are thrown onto another path. Let Jesus use you where you are. He will make the crooked path straight.
“Don’t get so focused on where you are going that you forget about where you came from.” Big dreams are good, but don’t miss the little things. You are never too old to do goofy stuff. Be silly. Dance in the rain and splash in the puddles!
Be picky about who you listen to. Acknowledge your limitations. Cling to the One who knows your future. Take small steps everyday, and take the big leaps with caution and guidance. Allow trusted people to come along side you and don’t FORGET TO CALL YOUR MOMMA once in awhile!
You probably feel like you are about to take on the world. No matter where you are, whether you are million miles or just a quarter of a mile away, we will always be there. It’s not what stands in front of you, it’s who stands beside you. Let’s go there together.
You are more than we ever expected and better than we could have imagined!
We’ve always been the ones to see your talent and all you have to offer, now you get to share it with the world.
Continue to “take the high ground” and conquer all that is in front of you. The only time you should look back is to see how far you’ve come, and to see the people who “have your six”! Behind you, are people who are more proud than you will ever know!
We are so proud of you! We were proud of you the moment you took your first breath, and we will be proud of you until we take our last.
Cowles Farm 