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My Prayer for Dylan
I’m not an eloquent speaker. No . . . far from it. Many times I struggle to find the right things to say. Sometimes the words get in the way. The Proverb writer said, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver" (Proverbs 25.11). I don't know if what I have to say will resemble apples of gold. I'm not even sure they will be pearls of wisdom. But there's so much I want to say to my son and others. So if you'll indulge me . . .
Time is filled with transition. That is never more evident than in the lives of the youth today. And so it is with Dylan and the other high school seniors this year. Graduation is fast approaching. And life as they know it is about to change.
“Graduation is a time of completion, of finishing, of an ending, however, it is also a time of celebration of achievement and a beginning for the new graduate."
Catherine Pulsifer
You soon will be going off to college. You will encounter new adventures. Exciting opportunities abound. And yes, you will also be faced with unique trials and challenges. My job, for the most part, is done. I don't know if what I or your mother had to say these past eighteen years were anything of value. But know we tried. We tried with every fiber of our being to lead you down His path of righteousness. We tried to show you His way and that His wisdom should always be the guiding light in your life. Now, more than ever, as you leave the nest and the comforting confines of home, you will need His guidance more than ever.
So my prayer to you is a simple prayer. It's a prayer repeated by parents in ages past and in the ages to come. One word.
Remember.
Remember who you are and whose you are. As the preacher said, "Remember now . . ." (Ecclesiastes 12.1a). Not tomorrow. Not next week or next year. The time is now. This is the time to remember. These are the days to hold on to. God is there for you. Speak with Him often. Remember Him always. Remember your God now.
Remember it’s not the quantity of companions that you have but the quality (Proverbs 18.24). Someone once said, "Wrong is wrong, even if everyone is doing it. Right is right, even if no one is doing it." And while this may not be an inspired quote, the principle is surely Biblical. Paul said bad company ruins good morals (1 Cor. 15.33). Remember that. Remember to surround yourself with friends who are like-minded. Friends who will help you in your walk. Friends who will help you get to heaven.
Remember God's words to Joshua as he too was about to sail in unchartered waters. As he was about to lead the nation against a world who contends against the Righteous One. Against a world whose immorality mirrors our own. "Be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law . . . Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go" (Joshua 1.7). You will at times need His courage. You will need His strength. His shield.
Remember to set your goals correctly. For when you do, they will take you in the right direction. I echo Paul’s remarks to the Corinthians. "So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him" (2 Cor. 5.9). Pleasing others may seem like the easy thing to do. Pleasing Him in everything you say and do will bear eternal fruit. Be grounded in His truth. "When the root is deep there is no reason to fear the wind." Remember that.
Tears will flow from your parents' eyes in the days to come. Oh how they will flow. But they will be tears of joy as we too look for the wonderful things that are up-and-coming for you. So spread your wings and fly. Reach for the stars no matter how hard it seems, and fly like an eagle with the knowledge that this journey will bring your way. And remember we are just a phone call away. Remember that your name and your physical and spiritual well-being will be on our lips daily as we offer up prayers before His throne.
I remember your name in the night, O LORD, and keep your law.
Psalm 119.55
My prayer for Dylan is the same prayer I have for every high school senior who will soon embark on the odyssey of adulthood.
Remember.
And know that we are so very proud of you. We love you. And our God has great things in store for you.
Remember that. Always
