My little girl graduated from Kindergarten this week. KINDERGARTEN! I wrote about her first day–how God led us to her school and how we were working on helping my daughter be brave on the first day. It puts tears in my eyes thinking about how important and big and real those feelings were.
And now here we are. At the end of that school year.
Rejoicing.
My daughter has grown in leaps and bounds since that first day. She’s conquered fears, stepped gingerly out of her shell, learned, grown, stretched and expanded her world with new ideas, new friends and new experiences. I am so thankful to God for the path my little girl has been traveling.
Our school is a parent-led, partial-homeschooling school so whenever there was something special at the school (parties, plays, etc.) I volunteered to help. I think I planned the Valentine’s Day, Easter and Christmas party. I also signed up for decorations, tshirts and food at the Graduation. (What in the world was I thinking?!!)
It ended up being a gorgeous event (if I do say so myself!) in a garden theme. There were fresh flowers donated and the moms made flower-ish food to celebrate with afterwards. Myself and two other moms spent an entire school day setting up but at the end, we were teary-eyed thinking about our littles graduating that night.
When Pomp & Circumstance began that night, with grandparents, aunts and uncles surrounding us, I could not have been more excited and proud of my little girl. She walked down the aisle, still nervous and a little shy at all the attention. But she enjoyed herself to no end. She laughed and smiled and basked in the memories and friendships around her.
The graduates sang a few songs for us (oh, you should hear their counting-by-2’s song!) and then quoted a verse. It was in perfect unison and honestly, was a little more for the parents than for the kids:
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4
It’s true. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the Truth. I love setting up for a party, spending time crafting fun decorations and thematic elements. My daughter knew the graduation party was a party for her accomplishment. But her cap and gown was not my greatest joy. When I see her be kind to her brother, respond to discipline, ask a question about God or request her Bible for a bedtime story, I am filled with the biggest of joys.
What an inexplicable honor to lead my daughter into His truth! What a joy to see my daughter growing in her faith and love of Jesus!
Parents, as you lead your children–through kindergarten, summer time fun, High School or beyond, rejoice with them at every milestone. But let them see your greatest joy, your shining-est pride when they are walking in the truth, loving God with all their hearts and making choices to follow Him.
Congrats to our Graduates! Can you believe they finished Kindergarten? Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were all pregnant?? Olivia graduated yesterday & although I cried a time or two, the whole thing was beautiful & fun. I’m so proud of our girls!
Me, too, Amy! I can’t believe we’re here already. I can picture all our sweet signatures w/baby faces on them. And now caps & gowns?!! Yay for Olivia! 🙂