I expected to feel proud. I didn’t expect to sob when I caught sight of her.
We’d already been sitting in the auditorium for an hour (with six small children) when the graduation ceremony began. I was pretty sure the fatigue of the day, the soreness in my throat, and the crush of the crowd would keep the moment from being particularly memorable for me. I expected to endure.
Then Pomp & Circumstance exploded into the room, and the faculty began floating down the aisle in their many-colored robes. Suddenly, I felt impressed. Then, the graduates began their parade, and someone in our row said, “There she is, I see her.” Sure enough, shining out above all those other faces was our beautiful first-born. I’d expected to smile and wave when she walked in front of us. I didn’t expect to feel all the joys and sorrows of her life come rushing through my soul and streaming down my face.
I’d planned all week for the specific photo I wanted from this day. One with Felicity in her cap and gown, surrounded by her husband and children. It would match the one of our family when Felicity was the eight year old child and her dad was the gowned graduate. I expected to blog about it, with an emphasis on family tradition.
We got that shot. And it is nice.
But, then, I caught this moment with Dan and Felicity walking down the street together. And suddenly, the best shot of the day had nothing to do with pictures from the past. It had everything to do with the future. With endless possibilities. With Dan and Lici embracing everything God has in store for them in the years ahead. Wonderful things. Adventurous things. Requiring-every-breath-of-your-life-kinds of things.
I expected to celebrate the culmination of something on Saturday afternoon.
I didn’t expect to glimpse the future.
Oh! So beautiful! I love this unexpected post. This picture is a perfect one. I thought of the future too, and they were such happy thoughts.
I love this very moving post and the picture of your first born and my first born. We are so proud of Felicity’s accomplishment and are very excited to see what their future holds!
Felicity may have just gotten her degree a few days ago. But this precious apostle, just like her siblings, Serenity (the purest heart God ever created), Charity and Joe; and her parents who taught her the way, has long ago earned a degree in God’s Kingdom. She is everything a Christian should be and she learned from the best–Wendell and Kathy. What a joy to have shared those special trips to Quincy for movies (“Hey, there’s a priest in this car!”–Serenity), to Busch Stadium for ball games, just fun gatherings for praise and worship or meals with Felicity and her beautiful family. The Nickerson clan will always have a special place in my heart! Love to all of you! Fr. Mike
I know what you mean! I experienced the pride of watching two daughters graduate from college while raising their families, and my son is just 6 hours away from an associate’s degree. I know the work that goes into going to college and raising a family and appreciate the glory of reaching that goal!
We graduated from high school together, you graduated before me in bible college for my lak of three hours, but I am still very proud of you. I also will begin my jurny this fall, following in you footsteps!
LOVE YA
Felicity may have just gotten her degree a few days ago. But this precious apostle, just like her siblings, Serenity (the purest heart God ever created), Charity and Joe; and her parents who taught her the way, has long ago earned a degree in God’s Kingdom. She is everything a Christian should be and she learned from the best–Wendell and Kathy. What a joy to have shared those special trips to Quincy for movies (“Hey, there’s a priest in this car!”–Serenity), to Busch Stadium for ball games, just fun gatherings for praise and worship or meals with Felicity and her beautiful family. The Nickerson clan will always have a special place in my heart! Love to all of you! Fr. Mike
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