Before We Graduate--by Linda Kozar

On Friday, we attended our oldest daughter's graduation from college. She received a degree in Psychology from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. My husband and I and both our moms attended. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation and excitement!

I'm not the tearful type, usually so I was unprepared for what happened next.

Before the ceremony started, video recordings of a lot of the students played on a couple of Jumbotrons and my eyes started going all misty on me. Young men and women thanked their parents for making financial sacrifices for them and for sticking with them through the years, being there for late night phone calls, for angst about tests and teachers, breakups and heartbreaks.

I began to think about all those young people, including my own sweet daughter, just starting out and how they each have the opportunity to impact the world in a positive way.

We cheered as our daughter walked across the stage, clapping loud and proud!

But halfway through the ceremony something happened.

They announced that a mother and sister would be receiving a degree postumously for a young woman.   Her mother and sister approached the stage. The auditorium hushed to silence.

Poised on the verge of a promising life, this young woman would never walk across that stage, never engage in her chosen career, never fall in love and marry or give her parents a grandchild to bounce on their knees.

Tears began a slow roll down my cheeks.

Not one of us knows the number of days allotted to us. Before we graduate from this life, we must make the most of every day. We must share the love of Christ, lend a shoulder to those who are grieving, bring both physical and spiritual nourishment to those who have need and bring God glory.

Have a blessed week my friends--
Linda

*Want to read what happened when we got home from graduation? Read my story about the little birdies: http://bookishdesires.blogspot.com

Linda Kozar is the co-author of Babes With A Beatitude—Devotions For Smart, Savvy Women of Faith (Hardcover/Ebook, Howard/Simon & Schuster 2009) and author of Misfortune Cookies (Print, Barbour Publishing 2008), Misfortune Cookies, A Tisket, A Casket, and Dead As A Doornail, (“When The Fat Ladies Sing Series,” eBooks, Spyglass Lane Mysteries, 2012). Strands of Fate released October 2012 (Hardcover/Ebook, Creative Woman Mysteries) and her nonfiction title, Moving Tales, Adventures in Relocation, released in 2013 (Indie-Published). She received the ACFW Mentor of the Year Award in 2007, founded and served as president of Writers On The Storm, The Woodlands, Texas ACFW chapter for three years. In 2003, she co-founded, co-directed and later served as Southwest Texas Director of Words For The Journey Christian Writers Guild. She and her husband Michael, married 24 years, have two lovely daughters, Katie and Lauren and a Rat Terrier princess named Patches.

Represented by: Wendy Lawton, Books & Such Literary Agency

Member of: CAN (Christian Authors Network), RWA (Romance Writers of American), WHRWA (West Houston Romance Writers of America), ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), Writers On The Storm, The Woodlands, Texas Chapter of ACFW, Toastmasters (Area 56) The Woodlands, Texas, The Woodlands Church, The Woodlands, TX.

Linda Kozar is the author of six books. Her latest, titled “Moving Tales, Adventures in Relocation,” is a collection of stories from people who experienced the good, the bad and the ugly when they moved. www.lindakozar.com  http://bookishdesires.blogspot.com