I have written many times before that God has an amazing way of talking to us. Sometimes it is right to our heart, and sometimes it is without saying a single word. All we have to do is just listen. His words are always there along with His presence.
This past week, my son had a great honors program night with his choir/thespian group at The Donelson Fellowship, a wonderful church located across from McGavock high school. There, parents, teachers, grandparents and on and on, gathered to honor these wonderful and talented kids and especially the seniors who were moving on to even more bigger things.
Yes, it was an emotional evening of knowing that this part of my son’s journey was now over but a happy one because it did happen and it built some amazing relationships with other parents as well.
Here is where God spoke to me, without speaking to me. As I entered the church that night, I got lost, imagine that. So as I tried to weave my way to where the ceremony was happening, I ended up in the sanctuary. No big deal, but it is. You see, fourteen years ago I was in this exact same spot that I had completely forgotten about and it shook me to the core.
I have said that graduations from preschool to kindergarten, or elementary to middle school, or middle to high school are a complete waste of time. Unless, it is your kid and then it is the greatest thing that has ever happened. I had forgotten that in May of 2011 at this very spot we held my son’s school ‘graduation’ event, moving in from preschool to kindergarten. It also hit me that my mom was there and it was the final outing she had before she passed away.
She was in the throes of Alzheimer’s, dementia, or whatever you want to call it because it is all terrible. This night though, even though she had no idea what was going on, she was there. My son didn’t care because I never told him that his Bammy was sick, all he knew was that she was there. I will never forget her sitting there in that wheelchair, sick, very sick, but smiling and even though you will tell me she had no idea why, you will never convince me she didn’t know. Somewhere deep inside of her, she knew what was happening.
My mom passed away almost exactly a month later. Years later I am standing there because my son’s honors and awards night was taking place at this same church. It was almost as if she was saying to me, I was there the whole time watching him, from beginning to end, on this journey. There was no crying or sadness, but only happy tears because I know God spoke to me and sent me in the wrong way to find the right way.
I urge you to always listen because He is always talking. You never know what door he will send you to find where you need to be. From beginning to the end, there was never a doubt. Thank you, Lord.
