Congratulations Class of 2009!!!!
Leah graduated from high school last night.
The room was filled with great pride, joy and appreciation for all that contributed to this achievement, albeit, we recognize, none greater than He.
Father, as parents we once again find ourselves “dedicating” our sons and daughters to You; as we recognized 18 or 19 years ago, You created them each “fearfully and wonderfully” and we recognized that they actually and ultimately belong to You; that you placed them in our care to “raise them in the nurture and admonition of Jesus Christ”.
And we acknowledge that the schools they have attended have been a significant part of the task. Father, we realize once again—as we did then—that this dedication, this “giving over” of our sons and daughters is not a one-time-event; it is a continual, day-by-day dedication.
We this day give them again to You; we dedicate them to you. For your good pleasure; for Your glory. Lord, we pray that our sons and daughters long for nothing but You, nothing but holiness, nothing but union with Your will.
May they recognize that You have given me these desires, and You alone can give them the thing desired. May their souls long for communion with You.
Father, may they never seek in the creature what can only be found in the Creator. Father, we deeply and passionately love our sons and daughters today; You have blessed our lives with them; we are the richest of people because of them.
Let them learn by paradox—
That the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high; that the broken heart is the healed heart; that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit; that the repenting soul is the victorious soul; that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown; that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision.
O Lord God, You have commanded them to believe in Jesus. We pray that they would flee to no other refuge, wash in no other fountain, build on no other foundation, receive from no other fullness, and rest in no other relief.
And we ask all of this in no other name but the matchless name of Jesus. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment