Our oldest son graduated Summa Cum Laude from GA Military College Friday night. (He, along with many other students, was a non-cadet.)
The path to graduation wasn’t straight: a false start; a year off; a year working. He went back to school and got serious, but there were still obstacles—financial aid hitches; classes not offered when needed; the day-to-day responsibilities of becoming an adult.
The most honored graduate was a wife and the mother of four sons. I can almost guarantee that there were days—maybe weeks, months, or years—when she didn’t believe she could do it, didn’t believe she would ever walk up on that stage and have a diploma placed in her hand, certainly couldn’t imagine being singled out and honored above others. Did her family believe it? I don’t know.
Some choices that sideline or delay us are hard to overcome: they can jail, maim, or harm us emotionally. Others just require that we shake it off and keep moving.
There are days when it’s hard just to do the work and do it well. Dreams come hard, take work, get delayed. Discouragement sets in, especially if the same goal seems to come faster or easier for others.
Here’s the thing: your life isn’t a competition and dreams don’t come with expiration dates.
Who says it’s too late for you to go back to school, write a book, learn to play an instrument? Time passes. Let’s have something to show for it. Use it wisely.
What began for our son with stalls and pit stops ended with those three meaningful words—Summa Cum Laude—with highest honors. Those are words to live by, aren’t they?
Well done!!! What can I say… It all goes past so fast!!! You must be so proud!!!
Congratulations to your entire family! What an accomplishment! The crooked roads are the ones that teach me the most! I pray for you and your son as his life begins…as an adult, graduated…with Highest of Honors!
oh wow, congratulations to all of you!!! love those pictures, dawn. great smiles run in the family!
Congratulations! What an accomplishment.
Congratulations to your son (and you)!! My mom went back to college when my brother and I were young and worked her tail off to graduate and become a teacher. She’s always been an inspiration and a reminder that it’s never too late to follow your dreams!
That is amazing. I bet you are so proud of him.
Congratulations to all-what an accomplishment! Your post is just what I needed to hear today.
LOVELY, lovely, lovely. You are so right – dreams do not have an expiration date. Kudos to your hard-working boy/man and congrats to you, too, mama. You all done good!!
I absolutely love this!!!! Congratulations to your son, yourself, and to that hard-working mom. Awesome post!
you are *shining* with pride in those photos, friend. love it!
Se7en, yes, we sure are proud!
Rebecca, you are so right, we can learn a lot from those crooked roads.
Mary, that’s a great story about your mom. I can’t remember for sure, but I think the graduate with the four sons majored in education.
Sweet Dawn – such joy and pride in those eyes – everyone! God has no expiration dates on his dreams for us! Congrats proud mommy for all those prayers I know you must have prayed!! ooxx
Dawn – I love this post and your photos. Congrats to your son and to your whole family. What a special day!
“dreams don’t come with expiration dates”
LOVE that phrase!!!
Congratulations to him and a VERY proud mama and papa; SO glad there are pictures with YOU in them (since so often you’re the one behind the lens!!). They’re perfect captured moments.
As my daughter is just about to begin her college career, this is beautiful encouragement :).
Awesome. Truly.
Oh, Dawn! BIG CONGRATS to you and your boy! I adore the pics, too! Here’s to new beginnings {clink, clink}! 🙂