dear 2020 grads.

Dear 2020 grads,

FIRST i’d like to say i’m sorry for all the hilarious 80s grad pix that are being posted all over the internet right now with the “in honor of the 2020 grads” captions. Truly, this is NOT your fault. It’s COVID-19’s fault (and we old-people-with-bad-grad-pix’s fault, too).

Truly, none of us can understand what this feels like for you. i hope we don’t try to compare it to other events or to craft life lessons in the now. As a mom of one of you, i’m finding myself in prayer a lot asking, “OK God, now what? How can i help her see You even in this? How can i see you in this?”

And so, today i was reading Joshua 1:1-4 and something stood out to me and made me think of you…and me. Joshua was standing in the wake of an earth-shattering, confusing, inexplicable time: Moses is dead. Moses was the lead. Moses was the plan. In verse 2 (The Message) the Bible says: “Moses my servant is dead. Get going.” Um. OK. What?

The lead. The plan. Everything changed for Joshua. Everything has changed for you.

It kinda feels like God wants Joshua to know it’s OK to glance back, but now is the time to focus forward. “Get going.” If you read down a few more verses God reminds Joshua that He won’t give up on Joshua. He won’t leave Joshua. And there are lots of words sprinkled all over the place like “strength” and “courage”.

2020 grads, these words are yours. In the wake of crazy times, confusion and uncertainty are present. But strength and courage are there just under the surface. You’re not alone…He’s still the One who is the real lead, the real plan.

Here’s what i know about you:

You are creative–more creative than any of us ever had to be to find ways to connect, be together, and experience this time.

You are hopeful–it’s a choice.

You are appreciative of the small things–because so many things were ripped from you.

You will be stronger–God wastes nothing.

You will be closer–your ties will remain, your bonds perhaps even stronger than classes who weren’t spending their last days as a senior in zoom-call classrooms and FaceTime friend gatherings.

Everything has changed, but none of it caught God by surprise. Strength and courage will be your anthem. Now…get going.

Praying for you, hoping with you,
and ready to watch you take on this world,
Kris, Maya’s mom
(and probably a bunch of other OK BOOMERS, too)

*all of these photos were taken by the amazing Paige Greener.