Dear Seniors…

Dear High School Seniors,

I’m not sure that even Agatha Christie could have come up with such a plot twist to end your high school stories. These are extraordinary times for everyone, but I feel the acute sadness coming from your class in particular, and rightly so. No one could have imagined that you’d be quarantined indefinitely during the last quarter of senior year. Good grief. Even typing it feels bizarre. I’m pretty sure my greatest disappointment at your age was that the white dress I wanted for our graduation ceremony was sold out. Yes, this situation at this time in your life is unprecedented and difficult to accept, but the Lord will carry you through.

It was almost eighteen years ago that the World Trade Center was hit in New York City. The day after this devastating event, I remember taking a break from the news to walk around our eerily quiet neighborhood. I was two months pregnant with my now senior, and while touching my growing belly brought joy only days before, I recall a deep sense of sadness that our child was coming into a world filled with so much unknown, so much hatred, and so much fear. I had not experienced anything like 9-11 in my lifetime, so I could not understand how our nation was going to move forward. I did not see a light at the end of the tunnel, and the fear and frustration it caused seemed overwhelming. I remember painting the nursery, longing for some kind of “normalcy” to return to daily life. And then several months later, a new beautiful chaos entered in, and we embraced with overwhelming joy the gift of a precious girl. There was a new normal not only for us but for our nation, and it didn’t take long to look back and recognize, the Lord had carried us through.

And now, as each of you walk into adulthood after these eighteen years, our world faces uncharted territory yet again, though 9-11 almost pales in comparison to this world-wide pandemic. And to protect as many as possible, your senior events and celebrations have been cancelled. I want you to know that it’s OK to grieve this. Don’t assume that the only right response is to “find a bright side.” Right now, the realities of how this pandemic has affected your senior recitals, senior plays, senior sports, banquets, celebrations, graduations…it’s all difficult to accept! As a mom of a senior, I grieve with you. One of my greatest joys has been watching my girl perform on stage, and after the most recent musical, another senior parent leaned over and said, “I’m sure glad this isn’t their last performance!” Turns out it was the last one. Not celebrating through these milestones can be hard to get your mind around, but the Lord will carry us through.

From conversations with my daughter and her friends to various postings from seniors on social media, it’s clear you are a pretty amazing group of young people. Many of us have been critical for the technology that is so prevalent in your circles, and now it seems that we are gratefully relying on your expertise to show us how we can stay “connected” through it. Instead of spewing out frustrations, your resilience is inspiring as I watch videos of recitals at home, listen to you dream about a beautiful future, see you express deep concern for those suffering, and overhear laughter as you stay in touch with friends. Your humor, strength, honesty, and acceptance are in many ways as unprecedented as the times we are currently living in. The Lord is carrying you through by giving you a spirit of strength that is positively affecting those around you.

The mighty but tender hand of God, the One who formed you and knit you together, will carry you through the unknown days ahead. This doesn’t mean He is picking you up to protect you from hardship. He is not lifting you in order to skip over the rocky road and usher you right into time of restoration. The arms used to carry you are an extension of His presence, His peace, and His strength all given in order to face the disappointments and challenges ahead. Trust in those life-giving arms. And when Jesus finally brings us into a time of restoration, I hope you are able look back like the Psalmist does when he remembers How God was faithful in recent trouble. He sings loud enough for all to hear, “The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad!” (Psalm 126).

You will always remember these last days of high school (and it’s likely you will never view toilet paper the same way again). I have no idea what finishing up this year will look like; none of us know what the future holds. But I know who holds you. This is but one chapter in a story God has already written, and your age in the year 2020 is no mistake. I hope I’m nearby to hear future shouts of joy as you reflect on God’s greatness and share with each other how He carried you through a pretty memorable end to your senior year. We are cheering you on as you find your footing in this new “normal,” and when restoration comes, we will be there celebrating with you. Until then, know that you are loved, you are thought about, and you are carried by a great and mighty God.

With Love,

A Senior’s Mom