“Are You Ready to Graduate?” by Justin March

It is graduation season, and we have been blessed to take part in many of our
youth’s glorious celebrations. The joy of watching them applauded for their
accomplishments, recognized for their hard work, and congratulated for reaching
their goals is always refreshing and gives me hope for a brighter and better
tomorrow. And as I try to write some thought provoking, love filled words in
their graduation cards, there are always three subjects I feel are important.

Spreading your wings. The further you spread them, the better the
opportunities. Like an eagle flying high above the ground, you are limitless when
you soar with open wings. Unclipped and unbroken, your wings take you places
you never knew existed. They bring you to heights you thought were impossible
to reach. And just as a hen spreads her wings to draw the chicks near, you too
encapsulate others as you come to them with open arms and honest invitations.

Dreaming big. There are two things I feel we should avoid in this life.
Allowing others to crush our dreams and being a dream crusher. We were created
to dream big. We were created to be innovative, thought provoking, and trend
setting. We were created to have goals, work hard, and learn from our mistakes.
And we should never allow anyone to tell us our dreams are unachievable. We
should be supportive of one another’s dreams, and even when we do not think
they are good ideas, we should do whatever it takes to help them come to
fruition.

Having faith. You are going to meet many people in this life who will tell you
they have the answers. There are those who will push their agendas and ask for
your support. There are those who will seem like good people but may take
advantage of your lack of experience. And there are those who will become
mentors, teachers, and life changing partners in your next steps on this
journey. Pay attention to the people that have your best interests in mind and
be wary of those who push their ideals. It will not always be easy to tell the
difference.

I believe these three things build a solid foundation for our lives. They are
teachings we can follow throughout our journeys. And I believe they are lessons
that allow us to do God’s work, strengthen our relationship with Him, and draw
others closer to Him. So, spread your wings, dream big, and have faith. Do not
allow what you love to be hindered by forces that are not of God’s doing. And
support one another, love one another, and lift one another up as each day is a
new adventure full of God’s graces and blessings.