My son graduated last night with both his high school diploma and his Associates degree. He was my last homeschooled child, so after years of dedication, the ceremony was something I couldn't miss. In fact, I even changed my traveling schedule around months ago to be sure I would be there. So imagine my emotional state when the last leg of my flights was canceled with no other flight available. All hope was lost ... or was it?
It was one of those moments in life where one could accept the circumstances, or one could decide to try. Not one to let grass grow under my feet, I decided to try. I dried the tears from my face and set out for another way home. The train schedule showed the last train to get me to the ceremony in time had just left the station. My mind toyed with the idea of renting a car and driving myself the five+ hours, but this would mean driving through New York City--something I've never done. In fact, I always avoid those bridges like the plague. Could I do it? I wondered as I dried my tears and headed in the direction of the rental car shuttle. Before I knew it I was standing at the car rental counter with a car brought around for me. There was no more time to debate. It was time to drive. And drive I did!
I won't go into the horns and "birds" I heard and saw fly along the way because I want to focus on the empowering moment this endeavor gave me. I drove in thick, bumper-to-bumper traffic. I saw a few accidents and prayed for the people whose days had just been derailed like mine. I reached out to friends to pray for me along the way too. As the time for the beginning of the ceremony came and went, and I was still so far away, I expected to have missed the graduation after all. My husband called and said I should just go to the restaurant we planned to eat at after. But that felt like giving up. I couldn't make a Plan B yet. So I continued to pray for the road to clear, and soon after it did. Nearly six hours later, I pulled into the parking lot and ran down the street and up the steps to the Symphony Hall, stopping only to buy a dozen roses from a vendor...because I figured that's what Wonder Woman would do. I headed inside and made my way to the seat my husband saved for me and quietly cried again as I watched my son's row stand up to head to the stage.
I MADE IT!
Sorry it's blurry. I was shaking so much by this moment. But look at that smile! His mom came through. He will never know how much I was stretched beyond my comfort zone ... at least until he has children of his own and understands how far a parent will go for their child. And for all parents out there wondering how far they would go, you can't know until you are faced with such a moment. But don't underestimate yourself, because with God all things are possible.
Katy Lee has published seventeen novels, including her
Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense books. She calls her thrilling mysteries and romances
“Higher purpose stories at high speed suspense.” Two of her books have been
nominated for both the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® Award and the Daphne
du Maurier Award for excellence in mystery. Katy has won an Inspirational
Reader’s Choice Award and Selah Award for her 2016 Romantic Suspense Blindsided. A native New Englander, Katy
loves to knit warm wooly things while she plots her next suspense story. You can connect with Katy at: KatyLee@Katyleebooks.com or her
website: KatyLeeBooks.com and Facebook, Katyleebooks Instagram katyleeauthor
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