It's hard to believe my son Michael is graduating from High School today. Thirteen years ago as he started Kindergarten he cried everyday for the first week. At that time we were calling him Anthony because he is a JR. and we didn't want any confusion. Well after a week of Kindergarten his teacher asked me what was she to call him. He's signing his papers Michael. So we all agreed he would then be called Michael. Except for his Grandma, she still calls him Anthony, she just can't get in the habit of calling him Michael. He was a very smart child even back then. When asked to recite the alphabet he asked his teacher frontwards or backwards. But somehow over the years he has lost that confidence of thinking he's still that smart. They say the more brain smart you are the less common sense you have. So he must be a genius. At this new step in his life he has often pondered what his future holds. Whether to join the Air Force. Go to college, not really knowing what he would major in, or either Culinary School. Or just go to work and try to make the best of it with the way the economy is. But the one thing I keep telling him, is to pray about it. Because if he's not in the will of God he's going to be a very miserable young man. Only God knows the future for him, and the rest of us. So no matter what others tell you to do or suggest for you to do. You need to pray and listen to what God tells you to do. "A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump: a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree." Proverbs 11:28 If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by His purpose and for His purpose. Many times he thought I didn't believe in him. When I would fuss at him about failing grades. But it wasn't that I didn't believe in him, it was because I knew he had it in him to be great, if only he would. To him it was fussing, but maybe to any other teen-age boy it would have been that too. But Michael, even though I probably haven't ever said it near enough, I am so very very proud of you. Wherever life takes you, there's going to be rough times. But always remember your creator and that he said I will never leave you nor forsake you.
We love you Michael, and God does too.
