Jesusluvsall's Blog

Last weekend I went to the high school graduation party for my youngest niece. I was happy to stop by and congratulate her. I also had the thought of how quickly the years went by because I still remember praying for her the day she was born.

Yesterday I went to the graduation party for a daughter of friends from church. It was great to see friends from church there and a blessing to see a special family celebrate their daughter’s achievement. It was also the first time I went to a graduation party that had root beer floats. For my readers in other countries, root beer is a type of cola not beer and we put vanilla ice cream in it to make a float.

Whenever I go to the graduation ceremony or party for refugee friends, it has an extra meaning. For that family, it represents hope rising from the distress they have been through. For a refugee graduating, it represents an accomplishment achieved while studying in a second, third, or fourth language.

Several years ago, I had a group of young people from Vietnam that I helped with English and preparing for college. Going to their high school graduation ceremonies was a tremendous blessing. Their parents worked hard in meat packing plants to support their children working towards their futures.

There has been an unspoken reason going to such celebrations has been a blessing for me. It goes back when I was in Junior High, That was when it began, There were no ceremonies for me, no birthday celebrations, and no family at my 9th grade promotion. So when it came time for things like university graduation, I didn’t tell anyone, I simply had my diploma mailed to me.

I don’t regret going through what I experienced because it has part of what has made me who I am today. It has given me much more empathy as I help my refugee friends. It is also part of my motivation to do whatever I can to help refugee and immigrant youth to realize their dreams of attaining higher education.

All of that makes me think about how the bible talks about God comforts us so we may in turn comfort others with the comfort we received from God in 2 Corinthians 1.

It also causes me to reflect on the truth of Romans 8:28:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Even the negative experiences in our past Jesus will work for the good if we let him guide us through this life and ask him to be our Savior. Whatever our present circumstances are, if we give them to Jesus, he can work through them for a future blessing we have no idea of at the time.

Thank you for reading. God Bless.