Back Then

Over 38 years ago, I was busy studying [ some of us were 😀] and getting ready to graduate high school. Not long ago, I looked back at an old diary. For the month of May and early June of that year, every day my entry included ..’studied and slept’. Wasn’t life simpler back then?😊 Back then it was labeled stressful. Little did I know that the real stress happened after high school. I’m sure someone told me to maximize the moments, enjoy every minute. Live, laugh, love! I’m almost sure I didn’t listen. Like many teenagers, I wanted to grow up. Spread my wings and fly away.

So here we are; nearly four decades later. We represent those who survived all that life threw at us. A few of these former school mates I hadn’t seen in over 35 years. We met this day. We laughed. We reminisced. We all had stories of the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. We are thankful that we don’t look like what we’ve been through! Some of our graduating class didn’t make it. Quite a few were lost along the way- accidents, diseases, violence, suicide to name a few. These enemies stole from us and left a hole in our hearts. Pity we didn’t know back then. We didn’t know that although life was beautiful, it was fragile and often short.

Maybe we would have been a bit kinder, a bit nicer. Probably we would have spent more time really getting to know each other. Say how we feel. Laugh a little harder and worry a little less. Focused on what really mattered and ignore the things that didn’t. Not sweat the small stuff. Take the time to forgive and show some grace. Give more compliments. Be sincere. Made our classmates feel like they really mattered. Told our teachers/professors how much they impacted our lives. Be more thankful- complain less.

I remember Mark S. After we graduated, I never saw him again. I will never see him again in this life. Gone too soon. We talked a lot about many things. He told me about the mental health challenges in his family – how his father and uncle had died. I never imagined Mark struggled too. He always made me smile and was very sentimental. I don’t think I had taken the time to ask. I just didn’t know- back then.

To the graduates today – pay attention to those who walked that journey with you all those years. The ones you sat beside in class, studied with, had lunch with, played sports with, or roomed with on the dorm. Take a minute- ask the right questions. Listen to that still voice small that might be telling you to reach out. You may be the one who can make a difference. Maybe I could have – back then. “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” [Proverbs 27:17]

***Thanks for reading- Share with a graduate.