Lauren Sparks

The Sparks Notes

Have Mercy on Me, a Dooflunky

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“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6 NASB

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

 

I promised I wouldn’t write about my daughter’s graduation any more.  I’ve babbled on about it ad nauseam here, here, and here if you need a Shelby fix.  I must bring it up again, though.  Please forgive me.  Not just for writing about it AGAIN, but for what I am about to confess.

 

My daughter received some lovely graduation gifts.  Some Mickey Mouse items (her obsession), some movie tickets (she LOVES to go to the show – if she gets popcorn or candy), some gift cards (her wardrobe is getting a refresh), and some cash – which we are putting aside to help get her to Disneyland soon (I mentioned the Mickey Mouse obsession, right?).  We were blown away by the generosity of friends and family who wanted to celebrate her.  But I made a boo-boo.  I may have mentioned – or again babbled on ad nauseam – in the aforementioned posts about my stress levels at the end of May.  Chandler’s med school graduation, Allie’s athletic and choir events, Shelby’s graduation and party and throwing a party for my in-law’s anniversary had me frazzled to say the least.  All of Shelby’s wonderful gifts got pushed to a corner together with the cards until I had time to breath.  Then I went through each bag and card to carefully record the contents and the name of the sweet giver.  As soon as I could, I set about the task of writing “thank yous”.  Until I ran out of cards.  So I ordered some on Amazon to help complete my list.

 

The cards came 2 days later, ’cause PRIME.  Not bragging, just saying.  And I trotted to retrieve my carefully curated list.  But where is it?  Not where I thought I left it.  Not in the trash or recycling.  Yes, I looked.  Not in 25 other common-sensical places it could have migrated to!  I looked the proverbial high and low to no avail.  Now here is the catch.  I can remember most of the gifts and who gave them.  What I can’t remember is who I sent a card to already and who I still lack.   I could blame stress, or the fact that I am getting older as evidenced by the new pair of dollar store readers I now own.  But the bottom line is that I can’t remember – where I put the list or what still remained to be checked off.

 

If you gifted my daughter and haven’t received a response, please forgive me.  And please know how much I, and she, appreciate the Mickey Mouse throw, hooded bath towel, pillow, toy, clothes, money and tickets.  Your kindness did not go unnoticed and will not soon be forgotten.

 

The Bible verse at the top of this post brings me a lot of hope.  At my age, my memory may not improve, but it is reassuring that God’s not through with me.  He is molding me and shaping me and changing me to conform to His image.  And He will as long as I have breath.  That’s His promise.

Mortar Boards and the Sweetness of God

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“So that Christ my dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”  Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV

 

If you have been following along with me the last few weeks, you probably know that my daughter Shelby’s high school graduation has been an emotional time for me.  It’s not been typical, but nothing about my girl is.  If you feel like you missed something, you can read about it here and here.  The rest of you almost certainly grow weary of the topic, so I will wrap it up by sharing my final thoughts and blessings here.

 

I’ve had a week to process it now.  What stands out to me most about the experience is not pride in my daughter, which I have.  It’s not gratefulness for the family and friends that surrounded us, although I feel that.  

It’s the almost tangible sweetness of God to me that eclipses all else.

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It’s the almost tangible sweetness of God to me that eclipses all else.   He so tenderly handled my already raw emotions, starting with Shelby’s insistence that she and all her peers were wearing red dresses.  Her innocence and total lack of understanding made me giggle.

 

We got Shelby to the staging area to meet her precious teacher and teacher’s aide who would assist her and found our chairs.  Like most graduation ceremonies, it was boring and long.  Since my husband gave her an “S” last name (not complaining – it’s much easier to pronounce than what I would have given her – Koepf), we waited a while for her moment.  Just as my uncomfortable seat was beginning to affect my normally sunny countenance, we saw Shelby and her helper making their way around the auditorium toward the stage.  And she entertained us all the way around.  First, she saw my friend Terri seated on the front row and broke loose from her escort (almost into a run) determined to sit with her.

 

Terri apologized to me later, but I wouldn’t hear of it.  It is a precious memory to me that my girl wanted to be with my friend.  Once Terri convinced her to line up with her friends, Shelby began a fight with her aide over the hat.  You can see the struggle here:

 

 

and here:

 

 

 

and here:

 

 

When I could have cried, I laughed and laughed and laughed as Ms. A finally gave up and let Shelby walk the stage sans topper.

 

 

And as she walked the stage, the audience started to clap and cheer, just like they did for the 12,000 graduates before her.  Well, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration.  But it took Shelby longer to walk than anyone else.

 

 

And as she ambled across, not really knowing what was going on; the applause continued, and grew.  My girl, who won no awards or scholarships or even a college acceptance, received the longest ovation of the night.  The tears fell then.  They are falling now as I retell it.  But they weren’t sad tears.  They still aren’t.  The tears are full of gratitude – for the ways God can use someone with the IQ of a toddler to touch a life.  For the ways Shelby fills my heart with joy.  For the love of a good, good Father who knew exactly what was needed to make the night special for this mama.

 

“The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.  They are new ever morning; great is Your faithfulness.”  Lamentations 3:22-23  NASB

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