Commencement

My older daughter graduated from high school in the spring of 2018. A homeschool graduation ceremony is somewhat different from other graduation ceremonies. Parents were permitted to hand the diplomas to their graduates, and to give a short speech. 

Here is what I had to say for my girl: 

When the prophet Samuel was still very young, his mother took him — as she had vowed to do before he was born — and dedicated him to a life of service in the tabernacle of the Lord. Hannah understood from the beginning what we sometimes shy away from: our children are only ours briefly, in trust. At some point, we have to let them go.

For most of us, as parents, graduation is the point at which we begin to really contemplate letting go to the extent that Hannah faced when she took Samuel to the tabernacle and left him there. I stand here, in this ceremony, preparing to let you go. If I have done my job properly, then what I have prepared you for is a life in the service of the Lord. I think you are ready. You are kind, you are honest, you are generous and brave. You are not only my child, you are a child of God, and for as long as you live in His service, we will both be blessed.

I love you, my beautiful girl.