A Bittersweet Day

2 Timothy 3:14-17  "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."  NIV

Today youngest daughter graduated from high school.  She is the youngest of the bunch, long ago deemed the one who would least likely finish school.  
She fought the bonds of family and struggled to find her place in the world.  Her dress, her hair, her music, her spirituality was always at odds with what everyone else wanted for her.  Even before the diploma was put into her hands, she was coloring her hair and changing her look once again.  At the graduation the kids had senior tables with their life in pictures, trophies, accomplishments, and future plans.  Her table was filled with a life that most kids could only dream of having. Pictures of  cheerleading, softball,
Tae kwan do, music, theatre, rafting, rock climbing, adventure camp, writing songs, and more covered the sponge bob table cloth.  Because, deep at heart, she is still my little girl.  


I am so proud of where she is now.  There are many times in the past years that the struggle was almost more than our family could bear.  There were many sleepless nights, more tears than could fill many buckets, and a love for her so fierce that my heart almost burst from the pain.  Yet here she stands, a testament to the thousands of prayers sent to our Abba on her behalf.  

Yet this day means that my beautiful youngest daughter is now a woman.  Headed off to her own family in a few short weeks.  Sweetheart pointed out that all that she has gone through has made her into a woman we can be proud of.  A strength that is enviable courses through her.  Her sisters, mothers, grandmothers, and every woman in her life have all given her lessons that she will carry with her forever.  It is hard to imagine not hearing her voice as she sings at the piano, not seeing her smile as she comes through the door, not tripping over her backpack just inside the door.  It is hard to imagine not having an event to go to, a class to take her to, a crisis to manage for her.

There is a tangle of emotions this night.  At times it seemed that her teenage years would never end.  Now that they are here, I want them all back.  Each of her sisters have given me such joy as they have ventured into womanhood.  I can't wait until she shows us just what we know she is capable of.  I pray that Abba will watch over her and give her the strength of every woman from mother Eve on down through the generations.  I pray that she will go to her Father in Heaven first each day, that her knees will become callused from her time before Him.  I pray she will take what she has learned and use it to shine forth with the light of Christ every day.  I am proud of my little katiebug.  May the days stretch forth in front of her like the shining star she is in our family.