June 10, 2008
I had the honor of attending my stepdaughter's high school graduation last night. Some of you know the challenges she has faced during her senior year. Completing high school is an accomplishment within itself. To persevere and succeed despite such enormous (that word is truly insufficient) health challenges the way Shayla did is something I have never seen anyone else do. The tenacity, determination and strength that she has continuously displayed in the face of GINORMOUS adversity is beyond my capacity to understand. Ironically, the youngest of my friends is someone I want to be like when I grow up.
The excitement and anticipation in all of the kids quickly carried me back a number of years and I was glad the bittersweet memories of my high school graduation were so close at hand. I let myself get lost in them for a minute. Who knew fifteen years would pass in the blink of an eye, just like everyone said it would. Looking back, I thought I knew it all and was therefore prepared for anything. Turns out I didn't know much of anything and I learned the hard way you can only prepare for life one day at a time. Fifteen years later I would sit at a high school graduation and listen intently to the messages passed on from the young adults who seemingly know everything, and nothing at the same time....while looking back everything seemed different, nothing has really changed. I still don't know much, and I could never be truly prepared for life's challenges. Through God, and thanks to some amazing friends, I know how to LIVE and LOVE my life, despite being ill equipped.
When I originally wrote this, I had no idea how much my life would change over the next year and a half. I don't consider myself to be ill equipped today. I know through God all things are possible and whatever it is He has planned for me, He will supply me with the tools and knowledge required to be successful.
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