Invocation
The evidence of graduation season is everywhere. A few select announcements remain on refrigerator display. Thank you cards sit in piles of slow production.
This year, our graduation cup runneth over. A 20-year old son graduated from college with a degree in finance and is heading to graduate school, and our youngest, 17-year old daughter graduated from High School, bound for college in Arizona. Together with my husband, we exchanged air high fives, knowing we are still in the thick of tuition responsibilities, but satisfied in the sweetness of season.
At our daughter's High School graduation, I was honored to be asked to give the Invocation for the graduation ceremony. Not only because she was our fifth and final Senior, but because no mother/woman had been given the honor of invocating in the history of our school.
in·vo·ca·tion
ˌinvəˈkāSH(ə)n/
a : the act or process of petitioning for help or support; specifically, often capitalized : a prayer of entreaty (as at the beginning of a service of worship)
b : a calling upon for authority or justification
With profound awareness of the great honor, I prayed.
Heavenly Father,
We thank you for all that you’ve accomplished in these students. We recognize that their talents and abilities for this celebration came from YOU alone.
Tonight, we celebrate and we thank you for the goodness that YOU provided through FCA.
May these students know the peace of being held by you, even when storms might rage around them. Give them wisdom to navigate the decisions ahead of them and that no matter what, let them know they are YOURS. Cause them to remember your goodness, and to sense you are WITH them and FOR them all the days of their lives.
On behalf of these families, I thank you for providing each and every teacher and coach who sacrificed themselves to teach and invest in these graduates. Add wisdom and discernment to all they have gained here at Faith Christian Academy. Guide them with the wisdom that comes from your word and tune their ear to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
As parents, we thank you for these children. We hold them close and we let them go – confident of your work in the details of their lives. We thank you for the plan you have for their lives: plans to share the gospel with boldness and be living breathing evidence of a real Savior.
This evening, we trust you for your promise that when 2 or 3 are gathered in your name, your very presence is WITH us. We welcome your presence. We thank you for the comfort and healing found in your presence. In your presence is fullness of joy and for this we thank you and we commit this celebration to you in the name of your son, Jesus.
Amen.