We Don't Celebrate Alone
Beloved friends of LaSalle -
The VerHage family just had the immense pride and joy of celebrating our firstborn's High School Graduation this past week! With High Honors! At a loud and joyous ceremony! With two rows full of family who traveled in from both coasts and in between to help us celebrate! Of course this was a huge accomplishment for Sam, and we're beyond proud of them, but this occasion was also a huge reminder of all those around us that we all need to rely on who help us become, and grow and graduate, and make it to our milestones in life.
One of the deep joys of parenting for me is seeing other people care, show up for, and really see our kids. Like when I tell them they are great at something, our kids believe me - but when an adult who isn't a parent affirms them, or shows up for them, it is almost like a megaphone reaches past the assumptions that "parents have to do that" and so it lands differently. It is such a gift to have family, friends, church folks, peers, neighbors, and others from every phase of Sam's life show up in this season to celebrate this milestone. THANK YOU to everyone who supported Sam and us - with gifts, prayers, texts, cards, and presence - and thank you to everyone who shows up for others in this season as well.
Spring is a great time to celebrate and see others, to make visible the milestones we each are moving toward, and to call attention to the goodness we see in others and appreciate. We're doing just that many of our Sundays together - whether it's making space to honor our part-time staff, celebrating our youth, praying for our Congregational Care Team, thanking all our volunteers at our Congregational Meeting next week, or celebrating our graduates this Sunday - spring is definitely a season to celebrate! Together we notice and name, and thank all those who make a difference, and who show up, and those we rely on even when we sometimes forget that. For all of you who speak words of affirmation and celebration, who giveft gifts of prayer and in gift bags, for all of you who notice others in your own families and friend groups, who plan the party and drop off the meal, who text someone who seems a little off or who slow down to listen and notice another - THANK YOU!
This season is a great reminder of the importance of honoring all those who walk alongside us, and of the power we each wield when we show up for others. Church, what a gift that we don't celebrate alone - we don't graduate on our own - we don't have to go it alone! I am encouraged by each of you and looking forward to more spaces of honor and celebration and partying together as we wrap up this school season and prepare for the summer. We're not alone - we get to celebrate with each other - thanks be to God! - RevLiz