New Chapter!

This past weekend was one of big steps moving ahead for our oldest daughter, Hannah.  On Sunday morning she made profession of faith in our church.  She also graduated from Sibley-Ocheyedan High School this weekend.  Both of these steps include responsibility.  She will continue to grow with her faith and continue to learn at college and through life.  But each step forward means responsibility to participate, vote, work and share, in church or out.
We had been busy with plans and food for church and graduation that we did not take time for emotion.  Maybe that is a bit of a blessing and a curse in disguise.  We could not see the forest for the trees of things to do in front of us.  But that is how we need to look at everything I think.  Is getting everything we want for the best in our lives?  Is not getting everything we want for the worse?  Hannah's family and friends are all joyful that she is maturing and moving ahead in life.  Soon she will be in college and preparing to take her place in the adult world.  Everyone she knows has a little sadness as well.  We won't have that young girl, or teenager, or high school student so near to work with or just spend time with.  That can be called change.  Changing is not about grading simply on better or worse, it is more about the maturing and seeing someone able to take the control of their future through thought and deed.  We can only have confidence that the experiences and teaching together have taken root and will continue to surface and grow.
When Hannah was born by C section I asked the surgeon at the time to look for an instruction book.  Anything we get has some instructions and I wanted to know if there was anything special I should know as our children were born.  The surgeon said there was none.  I know that we already have one such book that gives us our guidance from beginning to end, but I wanted what everyone else does, answers to all of the questions that can come up.  "Is this a good color on me?  May I go on a date?  Do I have to eat vegetables?  What should I be when I grow up?"  My worry was for nothing.  The answers come from that teaching and experience from the past.  The answer is a solid foundation to nurture the change to the next generation's responsibility.  Simpler than I thought.  I want to share with Hannah and everyone a short story that may help all of us occasionally.

"What's the secret of your success?" asked a reporter.
"Good decisions." said a famous banker.
"How did you learn to make good decisions?"  he was asked.
"Experience."  came the reply.
"But, " asked the young man, "how did you get the experience?"
"Bad decisions." said the banker.

Hannah,  learn, grow and mature from every experience you have and don't be afraid to try new things.