“We can’t wait to see all the incredible things each of you will do.”
“You’re all going to do great and amazing things in the future.”
These words, or something similar, are being spoken all across the country right now in fifth grade graduation ceremonies, eighth grade promotions, and high school and college graduations. In fact, I’ve heard them multiple times over the past few weeks. And every time I do, I cringe a little bit inside.
The sentiment is right, of course. We want our young people to feel encouraged, like they can take on the world. And do amazing things.
But what exactly does “amazing” mean? Is it too much pressure? At what cost are we willing to “set the bar high” for our future selves?
As a high school senior at my own graduation ceremony, I felt like I could take on the world. I was ready to “be great” and “do something amazing.” I’m sure you felt the same way. But as an almost-fifty year old woman, I’m now feeling differently.
When we say to our children, “I know you’ll do incredible things when you grow up!” what are we truly conveying to them? That you can’t be incredible now? That you aren’t incredible now?
Are we saying that, only if you find the cure for cancer or work in a high level government job or become a missionary in a remote part of the world can you claim the title of “incredible and amazing?”
What about those young people who grow up to become stay-at-home moms, or teachers, or work on an assembly line? What about those men and women who get up every day and go to a job they don’t really like because it’s paying the bills for their family? Do they feel like they’re doing something great and incredible and amazing?
My guess is they don’t.
I’m not sure why I’m getting so sentimental and preachy about all of this. Perhaps it’s because, as I mentioned before, I’m almost 50 and I’ve been reflecting on my life a lot lately. I’m not sure I’ve actually done anything “great and amazing” by the world’s standards but let me tell you what I have done.
- I’ve been married to the same man for over 26 years. I haven’t walked out when I might have wanted to. And neither has he.
- We’re raising four beautiful children who I’m proud of, not for what they can do but for who they are.
- I hold a Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology and I have a job that I mostly love but sometimes don’t.
- We’ve built our dream home, a place of respite where we can all congregate after a long day of work and school and being apart.
- We’ve been poor and not, loving and not, kind and not, but we’re building this life that God has given us.
- I try my best to live like Jesus. I don’t always get it right and I’m sure I could do more, but I feel loved by Him and that’s what matters. It’s taken me a long time to feel that way.
Are these things “great and amazing” according to the world? I don’t know. But, as I think about them, they feel pretty incredible to me.
Colossians 1:9-10 says that “we continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God…”
This is what we should be speaking over our graduates, over our young people. That they would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will so they can live a worthy life.
May you live, not a great and amazing life, but a worthy story, my friend.