From a Mother's Heart

From a Mother’s Heart,

Tonight we close a chapter and open a new one. You are no longer a baby, but a child preparing to step up and take life by the hand. As this thought began to drown me, I had an epiphany. The parallels between reality and ceremony were daunting to me.

As I watched you walk across that stage and get your Pre-School diploma, my heart swelled with pride at the joy all over your face I had an overwhelming desire to stop the program. To stand up and to scream: STOP! REMEMBER THIS, IT IS IMPORTANT!

So while I didn’t stop the event… I do have some thoughts I would like to share with you-


Tonight I watched as the light in your soul began to shine. With uninhibited childhood joy you sang and danced for your Savior. As you grow, please don’t lose that freedom. Be more concerned with Jesus’ applause- not men’s. Live to please Him alone. You may achieve great fame or honor, but true success is where you stand when your Audience of One is Jesus.

I watched you sing your little Bible songs. With joy I heard you say, “ I get down, He lifts me up.” As your mother I only hope for happy days. Days full of sunshine and roses. As a realist, and one who has had some very hard days… I know the truth is undeniable. I am so thankful that at 5 you have learned lessons it takes some people a lifetime to grasp. When you get down, turn to Him. The One who knows the hairs on your head, also knows your heart. Trust Him to lift you up.

I saw you shine as you recited your Bible verses. The pride over accomplishments was so evident. You worked hard and you met your goals. You don’t know it yet- but it was then you touched tomorrow. Those verses were never meant to just be words my child. They are the firm foundation you will build your future upon. The words of hope and comfort on which you will cling when life stops being easy. Clutch your Bible. I saw them hand it to you and I wanted to tell you how important it truly is. God’s word is all you need. Your name is already on it. Grab it and hold on. It is already yours.

Tonight I saw you have to fight to even get in the door. To persevere in what is right when the rest of the world is doing wrong. You had to go against the flow at 5. What an awesome lesson. What do you do when you know what is right, but you can’t see or hear what you expect? … Do you just stop, or do you keep on? My child….Press on.

I saw you make pledges and promises about allegiances and beliefs on which you will base your life. I pray you may never have to defend that promise, but if you do- that you will do so boldly and confidently… knowing those promises are worth dying for.

Even in the middle of the ceremony when Mrs. Rhonda said, “Catch a bubble!”. What a timely lesson. To know when to speak and when to listen. To know that God seldom yells and you will have to learn to sit and listen in order to hear Him.

And then Remember…. As we watched the slide show, I had the

thought. What an incredible tool to recount the past. You will need to do that again and again as you grow. Life gets hard and sometimes your memory will fog with the events of today and you will forget the victories of the past. Remember what God has done.

So, there it is… Reality colliding with ceremony. In the middle of it all stands a Plan. The plan is one to “prosper you, not to harm you, to give you hope and a future.” Please know I will be there as you grow. Reminding you gently of what you have been so wonderfully taught. Forming the future with you. I will be the one who will hold your hand in preparation of one day letting it go.

Just know that when you begin your own race, I will be there. Thankful for all you have learned and have been shown. And while I can’t run your race for you…. I will be there. You can find me… I will be the one cheering the loudest.

I Love you,

Mom

Where I am From

Where I’m From

(Adapted from George Ella Lyon)

Nicole Millraney

I am from 505 Castlegate Drive, a quiet little dead end where I spent my childhood.
From Opryland and UNA softball, where I hit a home run and my mom threw up.
I am from basketball games where I made the winning shot,
Victory never tasted so sweet.

I am from Ezell- Harding Christian School and Tusculum Hills Baptist Church, where the foundations of my life were laid.
I am from “Silly Girls” and rolling houses, loving my sister Cindy, and eating Nestle Tollhouse pies.
From Shotgun shells, fake fingernails and four wheelers in the rain.
Wet, nasty, covered in mud,
Having the time of my life.
Daddy always said “true beauty is versatile.”

I am from grandmother’s house, chocolate chip cookies,
And “Every woman looks beautiful in red”.
From hitting the only light pole on the property, and refusing to cry when it hurt.

I am from taking Geometry seven times, but never letting it take me.
From cramming four years of college into seven,
Crying but never quitting.

From “Yes, Lord I will follow” and “Yes mom, I ‘m going to marry him”

I am from 223 Fuller Hall, the first place we called home.
No air, no carpet, and no money
Just with love, the world to face.
In that setting, I learned about God’s Amazing Grace

I am from mom and dad, my dear parents,
And Gary, the only love I’ll ever know.
From Lindsey Grace and Anna Kate, who set my heart aglow

These are my memories
Precious no doubt,
The ones I wouldn’t want to live
My life without.