Son #1's school offers Senior class parents the opportunity to buy a Senior Tribute Page for their child's Senior yearbook.

We are supposed to include a message along with pictures of our own selection.

I've known that I had to write something for over 3 months - yet each time I thought about writing it - I didn't.

I don't know why. I just could not fathom what on earth I could possibly say.

The deadline is Friday. Two days away. I was beginning to feel a great deal of pressure and thought perhaps I would write something stupid or at the very least inadequate.

It was especially difficult knowing these were going to be "forever" words. Words that would go into his "forever" book with his "forever" picture.

Tonight my husband was working VERY late. Son #2 and Son #3 had wrestling practices on opposite ends of the town. Daughter was home sick.

Tonight would not be a good night to try to write.

At least not something that would need to have a great impact with any poignancy. That needed to be heartfelt, filled with wisdom and well wishes and meant to be read forever...

...or would it?

I sat down.

Placed the laptop on across my thighs.

Opened Microsoft Word.

And then began to type.

Ten minutes later this is what I had...

Welcome to your Beginning.
Your slate is clean.
The highway open.
The map of your life awaits your navigation.
Simply plug your destination into the GPS.
But along the ride take some time to look around.
Enjoy the small things.
Stop off and visit, see a sight or two.
Don’t be in such a hurry to get there.
Because you’ll get there all in good time.
Where ever the proverbial “there” is –
And whatever it actually means.
Besides once you get there – you’ll find there is something else on your itinerary.
Another point of interest.
Perhaps a new address.
Perhaps a traveling companion.
Things to be excited about.
To look forward to.
To plan for.
Before you know it, you’ll scroll back through a long list of previous destinations.
You’ll be shocked and you’ll think to yourself –
“I can’t believe that much time has passed." And you’ll question how long you’ve been on the road.
And then you might discover things that you regret.
But don’t get distracted by regrets either –
When you find yourself in that place –
Just scroll over and search for local attractions.
Pick one.
Or two.
Or ten.
And if you ever find that where you’ve ended up doesn’t make you happy?
No big deal.
Just pull over for a while.
You can always call and ask for directions.
But all you have to do is reset the GPS to your life again.
Because I don’t know where you’re journey will take you.
Frankly, neither will you.
But as long as you trust that you are where you are supposed to be every minute of the trip –
You’ll be fine.
(Just remember to send your Mama lots of postcards along the way.)
We love you, Son #1.
We can’t wait to see what address WE have to plug into OUR GPS to go see YOU!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11