Four Girls Later

I once had a professor ask, “Is the sun in the sky right now?”. He told everyone that knew the answer to stand up. Systematically he went down each row and after each person answered, he asked them how they knew that information? There were a lot of “because I know” kind of answers. No one could really pinpoint how we knew the answer. It was then he told our class that unless you are prepared to back up your answer, you actually don’t have an answer. As a very opinionated young adult, who felt the need to share her thoughts on everything (far more than she should) this was solid advice. In light of this, I try to only share my personal experiences and the things I’m learning on my journey. However, I’m taking kind of a left turn today and I’m going to share with you the person I am most inspired by. 

This post will probably make him pretty uncomfortable because he’s also the most humble person I’ve ever met. However, he’ll be a good sport because he is my greatest encourager. 

Yep, you guessed it. This post is all about my husband. More specifically, his discipline and a never give up attitude. Y’all, after almost four decades around the sun he is finishing his Bachelor’s degree. Not only is he finishing this degree in a few weeks, but he’s finishing it with a 4.0 GPA. 

This endeavor has been a long time coming. He has been on this journey for the entire time we’ve been married and I would bet even before that. I have watched him make coffee at 7pm to start class work after we’ve gone to bed, that way it doesn’t interfere with family time. I have watched him pause several semesters for harder family seasons when his full attention is needed at home. I have watched him change majors to be as successful as possible for our future. I have watched him study and give class after class his very best effort. He has done all of this, while being the hardest working person I know, giving everything he has and more at work. He still shows up to serve at church on Sundays and doesn’t hesitate when someone asks for help. I would venture to say most people in his life probably have no idea that he’s been in school for the last 10 years, because he is a quiet pursuer. Desiring to better himself not for accolades, but to be the best version of himself. 

Want to know my favorite thing about all of this? The girls have seen it all. He not only speaks life over the kids and their futures, but he shows them what discipline looks like. He tells them that they’ve been uniquely made with gifts and talents. He tells them they have gifts to offer this world to make it a better place. He works hard so that they won’t begin their lives and careers blanketed in debt. He gives a hope for the future. 

He said that as an 18 year old kid he never could have envisioned college. He had “no opportunities, a 2.0 GPA, and no desire.” And yet, little by little, the last 20 years of his life he has been chipping away. 

You know what 20 years of work is not? A social media highlight. Typically you’re seeing very young 20 somethings with decorated graduation caps. They’re talking of all the fun they had, tailgates, and often where they met their soulmate. The experience becomes so very nostalgic. Even when I go back to my alma mater all this time later, I make sure my whole family eats at my favorite breakfast joint, sits in the quad where I would have coffee in between classes, or goes to King Street and eats a cinn-sation cinnamon roll that I used to share with my best friend. And you know what… That is absolutely incredible! I celebrate with each of those young people. I am fortunate enough to have some friends who have had children recently graduate, and as I look at the pictures, I am undone with excitement and hope for their children’s future. 

Having said that, it’s easy to look at others who had it go exactly how it’s “supposed” to go and feel like somehow we’ve missed the mark. But take it from my favorite person, it’s actually not too late. Sometimes that might look like 1 foot in front of the other… little step by little step… with two steps backwards over the course of 20 years. You can do it.

Shine your light. 

Xoxo, 

Sara