I’ve also never been asked to be a keynote speaker at a graduation. I’m not holding my breath, either.
Disclaimers aside, it's the season to celebrate graduates, and an opportunity to lovingly impart to them unsolicited wisdom.
Some of this came from people who’ve been trusted mentors to me. Some I’ve learned the hard way. Some are just nuggets I wish I’d known fifteen years ago.
All of it has rolled around in my head for weeks, and was initially inspired by my sweet cousin who walks across her high school stage for the last time in three short days.
I'm excited to celebrate the milestone with her, and to wish her well with these thoughts, as she navigates the wild world that awaits her.
Things just get better with time. I’ve known many a soul who live like their best life was in high school, and it’s a sad sight. Seek out role models who keep on learning, keep on loving, keep on stretching and keep on evolving, and you will too. You will know better, love better, and do better as time goes on. And when you think your life is good, be excited that it just gets better.
Better doesn’t mean easier.
When you feel like life is hard and unfair, it probably is. It’s the way life happens. The good news is that hard-and-unfair is a
season, and you have the opportunity to come out on the other side of it having
received a healthy dose of grace. Accept
grace humbly when it’s offered.
It’s not about you. Can you imagine if we lived on this earth only to bring glory to ourselves? What a bad joke that would be. Consider others as greater than yourself; you will be far less offended all the time, when you own the fact that it’s not all about you.
Pursue real community. There was a time when people really valued community, and focused only on those in their presence. They did not hide their authenticity behind high definition screens, and they were not interrupted by texts, phone calls, emails, or social media alerts. These days, our generation is struggling to maintain fulfilling relationships with parents, spouses, friends and children. Turn your phone off or leave it out of reach whenever you can. Your relationships will be deeper and truer when you do.
Beauty isn’t relative. Did you know that in the 40s and 50s, there were advertisements selling products and services that helped women gain weight? Society will always tell you that if [fill in the blank], then you’ll be more beautiful, and it will always, always be a lie. Do your darndest to combat that lie. In truth, beauty has become you, simply because you were created in the image of God. That is absolute; don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.
Practice gratitude. You don’t have to go to a third-world country to know that just by being born in America, we are a rich people group. No matter your specific circumstances -- goodness knows not everyone is dealt a great hand -- look hard for the reasons in your life to be grateful, and actively express your thanks to the appropriate people. And if one day you find yourself stuck in one of those seasons of hard-and-unfair, remember these things and let gratitude rule your heart.
Congratulations, graduates. Go and make the world a better place.
It’s not about you. Can you imagine if we lived on this earth only to bring glory to ourselves? What a bad joke that would be. Consider others as greater than yourself; you will be far less offended all the time, when you own the fact that it’s not all about you.
Pursue real community. There was a time when people really valued community, and focused only on those in their presence. They did not hide their authenticity behind high definition screens, and they were not interrupted by texts, phone calls, emails, or social media alerts. These days, our generation is struggling to maintain fulfilling relationships with parents, spouses, friends and children. Turn your phone off or leave it out of reach whenever you can. Your relationships will be deeper and truer when you do.
Beauty isn’t relative. Did you know that in the 40s and 50s, there were advertisements selling products and services that helped women gain weight? Society will always tell you that if [fill in the blank], then you’ll be more beautiful, and it will always, always be a lie. Do your darndest to combat that lie. In truth, beauty has become you, simply because you were created in the image of God. That is absolute; don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.
Practice gratitude. You don’t have to go to a third-world country to know that just by being born in America, we are a rich people group. No matter your specific circumstances -- goodness knows not everyone is dealt a great hand -- look hard for the reasons in your life to be grateful, and actively express your thanks to the appropriate people. And if one day you find yourself stuck in one of those seasons of hard-and-unfair, remember these things and let gratitude rule your heart.
Congratulations, graduates. Go and make the world a better place.
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