Dear Candace,
It’s graduation time. You know what that means: family gatherings, mushy cards, caps
and gowns, hugs and kisses… and presents!
(Who doesn’t like presents!)
A few weeks ago I sat thinking about graduation gifts and what I would
truly like to give you.
After much pondering this is what
I came up with:
If I could give you anything…
I would give you eyes to see
yourself as God sees you: Fully
known, dearly loved, treasured possession, unconditionally accepted, Divinely
equipped, especially chosen, wonderfully made, destined for victory.
I would give you confidence that
is not shaken by popular opinion, criticism, the latest fad, test scores,
beauty pageants, failures (or successes) bank accounts, number of friends, or
fear of the unknown.
I would give you strength to
choose the eternal over the temporary, right over wrong, endurance over
quitting, substance over popularity, compassion over judgment, forgiveness over
retaliation, and love over hate.
I would give you wisdom to always
know what to do in any and every given situation. Wisdom that sees the big picture – that sees everything in
it’s true light. I’d give you the
mind of Christ.
I would give you love – a love so
powerful and overwhelming that it more than satisfies your deepest emotional
needs with such abundance that it spills over all those around you. A love that is patient and kind, that
always seeks the best and never fails.
I’d fill you with the love of Jesus.
Since these things are beyond my
ability to give I am asking our God (out of His glorious riches) “to strengthen
you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell
in your heart through faith. And I
pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together
with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love
of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be
filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19)
Be on the lookout for them.
I love you!
Mom
P.S. The mushy letter is coming. :-)
