Graduation Season and “Selah-brations”

How could I blink and open my eyes 6500 days later? Those were my thoughts as I watched my first born grandchild cross the  stage and receive her high school diploma with highest honors. It was a powerful “selah”—the pause psalmists use at the close of profound thoughts, a call to stop and contemplate. And following the picture taking and celebrations with family and friends, that is what I did. I paused to look for my “selah brations” and found:

A pause to reflect: Present at her birth, I watched Elliott enter our world. I was privileged to be part of many milestones: first steps, musical performances, caring for her 24/7 while parents traveled for ministry, and so much more. Each chapter was a gift. Her journey represented moments with laughter, learning in life and school, perseverance, and character building that would serve her well.

A pause to give thanks: Family ties across hundreds of miles remain strong. For a graduation gift, one of her aunts had a blanket made with family pictures. The saying at the bottom read: “la famiglia e tutto.” Family is everything. We’ve learned to capture moments, not take family lightly, but hold on loosely. In a heartbeat, family structure changes.

A pause to pray blessings. At Elliott’s graduation party, my daughter had a Bible on a display table with an invitation for guests to underline a verse and include their name. That favorite verse was intended to be a prayer for Elliott as she moves to her next season. Mine was Colossians 1: 9-12 NIV

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,  and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to  share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”

A pause to invest and share: Several years ago, a speaker at a retreat encouraged women to give Bibles to their children as they leave home. She didn’t mean a Bible in a gift box with a name inscribed in gold letters on the cover, but a suggestion for a parent or grandparent to underline, and write  notes and comments on passages to encourage the recipient in truth. For a year plus, I made those notes from my heart to Elliott’s, with a prayer to hold tightly to these life-giving words.

“One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” Psalm 145:4 ESV

During the seventeen years and a few months that quickly passed, I had a front row seat to struggles, milestones, and celebrations, and offered much prayer for her. My sweet Elliott is my special gift, tied with the most impressive bow ever. My prayer is she will pause in our noisy world to have her selah moments and ponder God’s faithfulness and the great things He has in store for her, things planned for her long ago.

[Tweet “”Where are you this graduation season? Have you blinked and wondered where time has gone? Do you have a graduate who is a family member, friend, students in your classroom or church? What are your “selah brations”?”]

Share in the comments. Consider your Selahs and then perhaps write your prayer for a graduate.

And a few notes: Click on my guest post at Jeannie Waters’ site for more ideas on investing and gifts of influence. https://www.jeanniewaters.com/blog/graduates-practical-gifts-of-influence-inspiration-and-legacy-a-guest-post-by-marilyn-nutter/

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