Heading for the Goal

My oldest daughter is a senior this year. She has barely 4 months of school left and she will graduate with the class of 2011. For the first 9 1/2 years of her life she was home with me. I homeschooled her and kept her near me until almost the end of her 4th grade year. I remember having to enroll her in a school and leaving her that last nine weeks grading period. I cried as hard as any mom would when leaving their child at kindergarten. I had nursed her for 44 months, read to her, trained her in life as a Godly woman and nurtured her the best I could. How I longed to keep her little forever. But God has greater plans for her. As she heads for her goal of graduation, I am proud to say that she is at the top of her class, with a GPA I never would've thought was possible. Her strongest character trait is a young woman who is able to overcome any obstacle. She holds her head high and is proud of who she is, where she came from and where she is headed. Is her confidence due to the fact that she was at home for so many years? Is it because she received attention and one on one learning from the crib? I like to think she has succeeded because she was unconditionally loved from birth and taught to press on no matter what came her way. But she is her own person. God created her and planned for her before I even met her. He created a whole person who is unselfish, caring, focused and secure. I may have had a chance to teach and influence her, but in the end, she is who God created and who she has chosen to be. 


As graduation looms around the corner I am full of mixed emotions. I still don't want her to grow up, but I am excited for her. She is prepared for this world and the challenges ahead of her. She has worked hard. She has fought a good fight and is heading straight on for the goal she has longed to reach. I will just enjoy watching her finally get her wings and fly-for these days I have prayed and prepared for her. Fly my precious daughter! You have proudly earned your wings. When you get tired and need a place to rest and gather yourself, know that Momma's nest will always be here for you to refuel and that our Good Shepherd will be right there with His staff to guide you and protect you.