“For you created my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; and your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when you made me in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. You saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:15-17

Dear Daughter of Our King:

As I write to you just a few days before you graduate from college it is appropriate to take a thoughtful moment to pause and reflect over the great accomplishment you are about to celebrate.

As a mother and a woman myself, I want to remind you of the exquisite mantle you carry, along with many other young women – that you are called to be an example, an iconoclast and a torch carrier for all the little girls who will come behind you.

As the women who ran before us – who knocked down barriers and cracked through ceilings – (of which we benefit) – you must remember that this collective effort is not completed and won’t ever be.

For every step forward you take in exemplifying the truth and uniqueness of what it is to be a woman – in mind, heart and spirit – in academia, in the workforce, beside your husband or at bedside of your wee ones – yours is a heavy and yet supremely satisfying responsibility.

To be a women of character, of tenacity and of faith – you, and we must always set the standards high and teach others to follow. In this – you are especially capable and I for one will enjoy watching you as you climb hills, traverse mountains and even stumble through low valleys – to forge on to your God-given destination.

As the scripture above notes, God has made each of His creations, and more important, those whom belong to Him, His children – to be precious. You were created according to His plans and purposes and you alone, will have the responsibility of fulfilling that unique assignment God has given you.

It has been an honor to watch you in your growing years as you took those first tentative steps as a child to becoming the sure -footed and fine young woman you are.

Your love for life (and others) the kindness of heart, exemplary character and indefatigable spirit will serve you and this world well.

On this eve of your college graduation, I want to share how excited and proud of you I am.

There is a cloud of witnesses who watch with a certitude that you will meet all your future challenges squarely and rise to them as a woman of God, a daughter of a King and in the nature and history of your family.

With this, we wish you much love, success and confidence that you are indeed created most fearfully and wonderfully by the Hands of Him who loves you most.

God advises in the book of Jeremiah, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

And so the best advice I can give you – woman to woman – as you embark on your next journey – be it graduate school or beyond – is to remember you are created in God’s very image, know that He will always have your back – and always, always seek to hear His voice, even if it seems to be a whisper.

Lean in, lean on and listen…

Trust your mind, your instincts and your character but finish each choice by seeking God’s confirmation.

After all you were His idea from the foundations of the world – and God loves you first, best and forever.

Now…Are you Ready?

Set?

GO!