It began with my brother escorting me onto the stage, where I then linked arms with my mom as a recording of a letter I had written to her was played. In case you're curious, this was the letter:
Dear Mom,
I can honestly say that over the past 18 years, you have been my best friend. You show me everyday what it is to be strong, courageous, humble and perseverant through everything life throws our way. In every season, you have been my comfort and my safe place to hide. I remember when we went to Kenya almost three years ago, and we were camping in the most remote location we had been to yet. There was a horrible rain storm that blew through and I was so afraid of the lightning and the wind and the rain and the huge river we pitched our tent next to. I was the most terrified I had ever been, and you held my hand and eased my fears. You even made me laugh at the craziness of it all. In
that moment, I was embarrassed that at the age of 15 I needed my mother to hold my hand in a storm. But looking back on it, I am proud that I have a mother who reaches out to hold my hand through every storm to calm my fears and to bring me joy even in the darkest of times. You truly are the most incredible and inspiring woman I have ever met, and I could not ask for a better mom and best friend. I love you mom.
Obviously, there were some water works shed:
After we had our special mother-daughter moment, my mom handed me off to my dad to be presented around the ballroom as my accomplishments were read along with my plans for the future. Walking around the ballroom with my dad at my side, I was beaming with pure excitement.
As we finished our walk around the ballroom, my dad let me go to walk to the end of the stage on my own as my favorite bible verse was read (1 Peter 5:10), and the speaker announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Madelynn Marlow." In that moment, I felt more radiant than I ever had in my life.
The whole night was marvelous in everyway. It was better than I ever imagined it could be. And as I floated through the night, I couldn't help but hope that this was a little glimpse into what heaven will be like. Someday, I'll get to stand before my father, dressed in pure white, and my whole life will be there for Him to see. My entire life's journey will be laid before Him, and I'll be presented before His heavenly court. And I hope by then my life will have been full of adventures for His kingdom, a life full of brave pursuits of my purpose. I hope He'll look at me and see someone who lived beyond her comfort zone, who trusted Him with no limits. I hope He'll see someone clothed in humility who walked with a confidence in her identity as a daughter of the Risen King.
My heart bursts with longing expectation for the day when I stand alongside my brothers and sisters in Christ, linking together to form His beautiful, immaculate bride. With all our sins and scars washed away in the light of His abundant grace, we'll be presented to Him on that glorious day. And my ears ache to hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant," declared from the lips of my heavenly father as we are unveiled before His heavenly court.
I'm so far from all the things I want to be when I reach heaven. There's so much more life for me to cultivate, so much more I've yet to experience. And while I know I still have many mistakes before me, I know my Father will be there to pick me up every time I fall, and I pray that those words will forever be engraved in my heart, pushing me toward my destination:
Well done, good and faithful servant. Well done.
No comments:
Post a Comment