Senior week. The academic awards ceremony in the high school gym. The luncheon recognizing the top of the class. I was unfazed. I was proud of my boy and grateful to be able to celebrate him, but I wasn’t emotional. Was it because he was the fourth and we’ve been through this three times already? Was it because I really do trust that God has been integral in our son’s college decision, and I believe 100% that the Lord has incredible things planned for him there? Or had it just not hit me yet?
I was talking to Jesus about all of this as I got dressed, made breakfast, laid out our vitamins. Today was our “baby’s” last day of high school. And the final day he would ever pack a lunch for school. It became his job to pack his own lunch years ago, but I still write him notes that I slip in his lunch. As I grabbed a napkin and a pen it hit me that this was the last lunch note I would ever write him. And I didn’t tear up a little bit, I had real, full-sized tears streaming down my face.
Because for years these notes have been a way I could encourage him, make him smile, remind him I loved him, that God loved him! They’ve ranged from Bible verses to inside jokes to affirmations of how kind he is or how grateful I am for him. Who’s going to slip him a note next year when he’s had a bad day? Who’s going to remind him that no matter what his grades are or what he did or didn’t get invited to that Jesus loves him completely and totally?
God is.
That’s who. Maybe not through napkins slipped into his sack lunch next to the yogurt tube and banana, but through Maguire reading his Bible, through friends he meets, through worship songs he listens to, through conversations with Jesus. Plus I can still text and call :).
This is the thing about graduations. Dang, it’s hard for this mama bird to wach her baby fly. Until I remember that Maguire going off to college can’t separate my boy from God’s love. Maguire not getting lunch notes won’t separate him from God’s love. Even when Maguire faces challenges and disappointments at school nothing can separate him from God’s love. My notes served their purpose, but they were never the source of love. Just a reminder.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).
And don’t I think that the God who created my son (and my other kiddos who have already graduated) will be able to speak truth to them, remind them how loved they are? Of course He can. Or course He will.
To prove it to me, here are the next two times I cried:
When on my boy’s final day of school they ended their final church service (so grateful senior parents were invited) together by singing “Goodness of God.” My eighteen-year old and all of his friends joined arms, swayed back and forth and sang about God’s faithfulness, God’s goodness, and how they wanted to sing about it.
After the service there were a couple of awards. Maguire was awarded for his heart of service to the poor (The Dorothy Stang award). Such a beautiful award for our boy to receive, but the thing is service means so much to Maguire. His heart hurts for those in need. This award was God reminding Maguire that the service he does matters, that God sees him.
Okay, Lord. I hear you. You will remind my boy of your goodness, of your love for Him, of how much He matters way beyond my lunch box notes.
So, if you’re letting go of someone today—whether that’s a graduation or a move or a loss, please remember Jesus loves that person more than you can possibly imagine and Jesus loves you more than you could ever imagine. And nothing. Not. A. Single. Thing. Can separate you or them from Christ’s love.
Praying you rest in that beautiful love of Jesus.
xo, Laura
For more on bravely trusting in the love of Jesus grab a copy of my latest book, Brave Woman, Mighty God
Oh my goodness, what a beautiful letter and picture of that surrender-love Jesus shows us to show our babies 🙏🏼