“Help carry one another’s burdens." ~ Galatians
6:2
Crying had always been a healthy
release, but for Kara it became a habit lately. Sadness washed in like an unwanted wave,
knocking her sandcastles flat. She
stared aimlessly out of the window.
Four months away, she thought. The moment of truth, the stepping stone to
the real world. She’d been preparing for
13 memorable years. For a mystical moment
she’s there – at the ceremony in front of administrators, teachers, and proud
parents. In her mind’s eye, Kara scanned
a crowd absent her Dad. More tears. She let them fall, not raising a hand to stop
them.
Her Dad Michael beat prostate cancer five years ago. He’d walked his oldest daughter down the
aisle and seen the birth of a grandchild.
But his goal of seeing Kara graduate would not happen.
Now, he’s battling cancer of the bile duct. Doctors have given him six weeks max. Barely able to stand, he’s even too weak to
attend the Sports Award banquet tonight when she’d receive her All-Conference
Volleyball Award.
Memories blast through her mind; funny anecdotes about
stupid things that they’d done together; the good, the bad and sometimes the
crazy. God she would miss his pep
talks! The day passed in a blur of smiles
and tears.
Readying herself for the banquet, Kara hugged her Mom who
was muttering about her baby growing up too fast. She smiled at her bedridden Dad as he tried
not to show any emotion, acting as if were just another day.
As they entered the auditorium, everyone was jabbering excitedly
as they found their seats. Soon the
lights dimmed and Principal Chu stepped to the podium.
“Tonight is special,” she began. “Special because one of our students will
share a life milestone with her Dad who’ll unfortunately miss so many
others. Kara, will you come forward
please?”
As Kara approached the stage, the drum line pounded out an
energetic march followed by the school orchestra’s rendition of the Pomp and
Circumstance Graduation March. Her
volleyball coach met her at the steps and cloaked her in a graduation cap and
gown and presented her a bouquet of white roses.
Thunderstruck, she searched the crowd.
Mom wheeled Michael down the aisle to deafening
applause. From his front row seat
Michael mouthed “I love you Peaches.”
Kara stepped forward, shaking Mrs. Chu’s hand and received
the piece of parchment that would forever remind her of the kindness of so many
who’d made this special event happen. It
even made the thought of going through life without her Dad a little more
bearable since he’d at least seen her graduate.
"Perhaps," she wondered, "this is pure
ecstasy. This is what comes when a
battle is over and you reach God’s eternal salvation."
Lord, open our eyes that we may see You in
others. Open our ears that we may hear
the cries of the sick, hungry, frightened and oppressed. Renew us in Your spirit. Free us and make us one. Amen
