Thank you. I know that if I recite the prayer as it is, my mind will wander but the bible quotes Jesus as teaching the disciples to use it as a model. So, my prayer is never the same but it touches on each of the points: God's position, who He is (and who I am not), submission to His will, seeking forgiveness and forgiving others etc. Just praying in that manner every morning starts my day correctly. Then, thanks to my 45 minute commute (which I am about to start) I have more opportunity to pray for those here and those in my life or just play music of worship. Even my So. Cal. Commute gives me time to stay centered on God.
DB,
Thanks for the congratulations. Bless you my friend!
Graduation day and the power of prayer
Graduation went of without a hitch and it was a wonderful experience for my son. No incidents happened between my dad, X or Mr. X. Thank you for your prayers! (I also had my closest brother praying during the ceremony)
My son attended this school since kindergarten and we have been connected to this school for thirteen years so it was very much like saying goodbye to family. There was a wonderful slide show showing each graduate with baby pictures through 8th grade (about 20 graduates in all). Having been closely connected to the school the last two years because I was working from home and having gone on the 8th grade trip to D.C., being team "mom" it was VERY touching to see these children leave the comfortable nest of the only school half of them have known.
I was also moved to write thank you cards to several of his teachers and the husband and wife who run the school, all of which were involved in my daughter's education as well. Because it is a Christian school, the teachers share the love they have for God and teach the children that our purpose in life is to have a relationship with God and live lives that would be pleasing to Him. The school is very much like home to the kids and it feels like a family. My cards included a gift card to each but more importantly, conveyed my deepest appreciation for their loving the children.
Pizza with X and Mr. X After the ceremony, the plan was go to X's house for pizza and to watch the Laker's game. As it turned out, only son and I watched the game while the others sat outside eating and socializing.
My X-brother in law and his family were there as were my X-inlaws. It was so good to see them and I know they felt the same. We have always had a good relationship and though I don't see them as often, our relationships are in tact. (X mother in law was actually my cub scout den mother and brother in law and I were in the cub scouts together.)
When I said my good byes to everyone, I reached out to shake Mr. X's hand last in front of X brother in law who had kind of a surprised look on his face.
Lessons Dwell in forgiveness I will have more of these kinds of encounters in the future, next year daughter will graduate H.S., even next week son will have his official (pool) party with all his friends and all of his mom’s friends. I am invited and will attend but I also have another event to go to so my appearance will be short.
Pray I need to pray and seek the prayers of others who take prayer seriously. God may not change the circumstances to the way I would hope but He always aligns my heart in the way it needs to be to deal with the circumstances.
Keep everyone focused on the children There have plenty of opportunities to lose sight of this. Even in anticipation of this event, the temptation was to lobby for a after graduation celebration with my family. Instead, we will get together on Father’s day. I will likely show a little of the video to my family who could not attend. Yesterday went off just fine. As a matter of fact, X had to leave right after the graduation to go get the house ready and to get the pizza. Son stayed with me and I were almost the last ones to leave the school, giving plenty of time for him to say good bye to all his friends, take more pictures and for me to spend some time with the teachers and the parents.
I love my life!
Committed2Him- "C2H" All Things (Back from Spain!)...18
