On the Eve of Graduation: A Tribute to Our Son

Our family has pressed pause on regular life this week as we look ahead to our son’s graduation. Big Kid has finished high school and will walk the stage this Saturday to punctuate the finale of his K-12 education. Then on Sunday, we’ll host an open house to celebrate his accomplishments with family and friends. Today I’m taking another opportunity to applaud our son’s efforts.

Since I bragged on Big Kid when he turned 18, he’s made some important decisions. He has chosen to pursue a firefighting career and has been researching different departments, networking, and laying the groundwork before determining his exact path. Last month, he took a community emergency response team training. Right now, he’s attending an explorer program through one local county’s fire department. After graduation, he’ll earn his healthcare worker CPR certification. All the while, he continues working an average of twenty hours a week at his “day job” as a server at an exclusive local golf and country club and will likely pick up more hours per week over the summer. He’s exploring all of his options and considering the best opportunities for his goals and dreams.

“You must learn to hold everything loosely…everything. Even your dear family.” ~Corrie Ten Boom

I am so proud of our son for his chosen path, even though it’s different from what I would map out for him. The idea  of my boy being in harm’s way is tough on my mama heart. I have to remind myself he’s not a boy any more, but a young man. And he is being true to who God made him to be and answering the call he feels on his heart. Truth be told, I am not surprised at all by his decision. The sacrificial, heroic lives of first responders has appealed to him since he was a little bitty guy. Big Kid has always had a heart for others. He’s genuinely earned his lifelong nickname of Tender Warrior. Despite my desire for him to pursue a safe career path, I always suspected he’d end up as a firefighter, law enforcement officer, or member of the military.

So as the days tick by, I try to continually keep my grip on our kids loose, trusting God with their futures and his plans for them. When, over the years, our kids have grumbled about chores or through teachable moments, I’ve often reminded them my job as their mother is to work myself out of a job. My goal with our children was to help raise them into respectful, kind, productive members of society. It’s been a delicate dance, especially for our son and me during his high school years, to balance supporting and helping him but not doing for him what he’s capable of doing for himself. And he is so capable. I hope he knows how much we see it. And that he believes it as much as we do.

The part of me who loved my university experience is a little sad that Big Kid won’t enjoy the same exciting  adventure living away at college. But he has known for a long time he wasn’t interested in the traditional path of college straight out of high school. And I feel more fortunate than mamas whose kids are soon moving hours away to live in dorms because I get a little more time with our son here at home until he’s ready for his next step. Though it’s not like we have an abundance of time to hang out with him, as he’s rarely home for long between classes, work, his social life, and more. But I do still enjoy the privilege of grabbing a giant hug when he’s passing through and will be able to for the foreseeable future. And I’ll take that for as long as I can get it.

Big Kid, I am infinitely proud of you. You are a beacon of light in an often dim world. You are a leader, a protector, a fighter, and a lover. God has created you for big things. Now go and live out loud.

“Take pride in how far you’ve come. Have faith in how far you can go. But don’t forget to enjoy the journey.” ~Michael Josephson