This weekend marked a turning point in our family with the graduation of our firstborn from our homeschool. He looked handsome in his black suit and red tie; every bit the gentleman he is becoming. After a touching video presentation created by our second-born computer guru son and yours truly, my husband gave a beautiful "Charge to the Graduate". It bears repeating here.
Charge to the Graduate:
Today marks the beginning of a new chapter of your life. Your homeschool days are now behind you and your college and career days are ahead of you. In some ways the path you take is one that is unique to you and in other ways you are going to be going down paths familiar to many of us sitting in this room. As for me I never went to college and opted for 6 years military service instead. So while I can’t speak much to what you'll face in college, I can give you some wisdom to keep in your heart as you navigate the terrain of life.
Number 1: Follow Jesus Christ.
This almost goes without saying but so many believers are falling away because their faith is weak. As you mark the end of your homeschool adventure keep in mind that the primary purpose for being homeschooled was our desire to raise a man of God who will use his gifts and talents for the Kingdom. Jesus' only prayer request was that laborers would be sent into the white fields to harvest souls for God's Kingdom. You have lived a blessed life and God has gifted you with many great talents for communicating and influencing others. Don't squander them on attaining a life of temporal success and material goods while you ignore the heavenly calling of Christ Jesus. Our Savior said Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the other things in life would take care of themselves. How's that for a success principle?
Number 2: Marry the right person.
As the saying goes, behind every successful man there is a good woman. Apart from your decision to follow Christ, deciding who you will marry has the greatest potential to make your life a living heaven or living hell. Don’t enter into it casually like you would if you were buying a car or deciding what movie to see. Involve your parents in the process, and involve her parents but most of all involve God and seek his guidance. And when you decide to marry, keep your vows. Remember that marriage is for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. The measure of a man’s character is his ability to follow through on his commitments after the emotion of making them has passed. The Scriptures say that those who swear to their own hurt and do not change will abide on God’s holy mountain. Finally, attempt to love her parents and her family as much s you love her. This will bring many blessings into your life.
Number 3: Learn the truth for yourself.
Notice I didn't say decide your own truth. But rather learn the truth. In the world that you are about enter there is no shortage of people willing to offer analysis and opinion. Like carnival barkers calling out to the zombies on the midway, the so called experts of this world are all too eager to impart to you their godless views and hollow wisdom. Make your college professors prove everything they say or else reject it as nonsense. Use the Bible as your guide and shine its light down every darkened hallway of man's limited understanding. The Bible says buy the truth and sell it not. You will no doubt face the temptation to agree with the worldview or logical fallacies of certain professors in the hope of taking the easy way out “just for the grade.” I admonish you not to do it. Do not sell the truth for a grade, but stand and fight for truth even if you must stand alone. I would rather see you flunk out of college with your self-respect and courage than see you conferred with a thousand degrees from a council of fools who have rejected God’s truth. If you spend thousands of dollars to attend college and don't learn the truth about the world, your education is wasted. Only God's word is truth, don't sell it out at academia's flea market of cheap ideas.
Number 4: Don't be afraid to take big risks.
Like the saying goes, if you don't leave the safety of the harbor, you'll never know the terror of being lost at sea forever :-) or something like that. Yes, there is the potential for big losses when you take risks, but there are also the potential for big successes as well. As the great coach Vince Lombardi said "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious." I would add that it is far better to fail at risking something big than to succeed at being mediocre.
Number 5: Take care of your knees
You'll miss them when they’re gone. Trust me
Number 6: Never forget I'm your Dad.
Today we are marking the beginning of a new chapter in your life but not one in mine. I am and will always be your Dad, not matter how old you get. And while the day will probably come when you will achieve far greater things than I ever have, don't forget that no one, except Jesus, will ever be more proud of you or love you more than I do. No one else will be as willing to lay down their life for you or stand next to you and fight if needed and when you lay me in my casket I hope you will always remember that I was honored to have a son like you.
Charge to the Graduate:
Today marks the beginning of a new chapter of your life. Your homeschool days are now behind you and your college and career days are ahead of you. In some ways the path you take is one that is unique to you and in other ways you are going to be going down paths familiar to many of us sitting in this room. As for me I never went to college and opted for 6 years military service instead. So while I can’t speak much to what you'll face in college, I can give you some wisdom to keep in your heart as you navigate the terrain of life.
Number 1: Follow Jesus Christ.
This almost goes without saying but so many believers are falling away because their faith is weak. As you mark the end of your homeschool adventure keep in mind that the primary purpose for being homeschooled was our desire to raise a man of God who will use his gifts and talents for the Kingdom. Jesus' only prayer request was that laborers would be sent into the white fields to harvest souls for God's Kingdom. You have lived a blessed life and God has gifted you with many great talents for communicating and influencing others. Don't squander them on attaining a life of temporal success and material goods while you ignore the heavenly calling of Christ Jesus. Our Savior said Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the other things in life would take care of themselves. How's that for a success principle?
Number 2: Marry the right person.
As the saying goes, behind every successful man there is a good woman. Apart from your decision to follow Christ, deciding who you will marry has the greatest potential to make your life a living heaven or living hell. Don’t enter into it casually like you would if you were buying a car or deciding what movie to see. Involve your parents in the process, and involve her parents but most of all involve God and seek his guidance. And when you decide to marry, keep your vows. Remember that marriage is for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. The measure of a man’s character is his ability to follow through on his commitments after the emotion of making them has passed. The Scriptures say that those who swear to their own hurt and do not change will abide on God’s holy mountain. Finally, attempt to love her parents and her family as much s you love her. This will bring many blessings into your life.
Number 3: Learn the truth for yourself.
Notice I didn't say decide your own truth. But rather learn the truth. In the world that you are about enter there is no shortage of people willing to offer analysis and opinion. Like carnival barkers calling out to the zombies on the midway, the so called experts of this world are all too eager to impart to you their godless views and hollow wisdom. Make your college professors prove everything they say or else reject it as nonsense. Use the Bible as your guide and shine its light down every darkened hallway of man's limited understanding. The Bible says buy the truth and sell it not. You will no doubt face the temptation to agree with the worldview or logical fallacies of certain professors in the hope of taking the easy way out “just for the grade.” I admonish you not to do it. Do not sell the truth for a grade, but stand and fight for truth even if you must stand alone. I would rather see you flunk out of college with your self-respect and courage than see you conferred with a thousand degrees from a council of fools who have rejected God’s truth. If you spend thousands of dollars to attend college and don't learn the truth about the world, your education is wasted. Only God's word is truth, don't sell it out at academia's flea market of cheap ideas.
Number 4: Don't be afraid to take big risks.
Like the saying goes, if you don't leave the safety of the harbor, you'll never know the terror of being lost at sea forever :-) or something like that. Yes, there is the potential for big losses when you take risks, but there are also the potential for big successes as well. As the great coach Vince Lombardi said "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious." I would add that it is far better to fail at risking something big than to succeed at being mediocre.
Number 5: Take care of your knees
You'll miss them when they’re gone. Trust me
Number 6: Never forget I'm your Dad.
Today we are marking the beginning of a new chapter in your life but not one in mine. I am and will always be your Dad, not matter how old you get. And while the day will probably come when you will achieve far greater things than I ever have, don't forget that no one, except Jesus, will ever be more proud of you or love you more than I do. No one else will be as willing to lay down their life for you or stand next to you and fight if needed and when you lay me in my casket I hope you will always remember that I was honored to have a son like you.
That was absolutely beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteNicole
I thought so too. My hubby did a wonderful job. Several of the local homeschoolers attended the graduation and all wanted a copy of his "Charge..."
ReplyDelete