Graduation Day

My baby is graduating today.

She’s the one who would leap before she looked, climb anything without fear of danger to reach what caught her eye. Talked to strangers like they were her best friend, touched EVERYTHING at the store, loves every animal – even insects – never wanting them killed, just relocated.

As she grew older she became an advocate for anyone that was mistreated or misunderstood. She is very passionate about her beliefs and always wants people to know the truth. She feels it her duty to inform others who may suffer from a lack of knowledge about certain subjects. If you bring up evolution, you’re on your own.

She has a love for writing but suffers from impatience and self-doubt and maybe a bit of procrastination, just like her mother. She has grown more shy as she as gotten older and as a result has a difficult time making new friends - just like her mother. But once she is your friend, she is very loyal and nobody had better say anything against you, ever.

My baby had to stay in the shadow as her big brother was diagnosed with a serious lifelong illness when he was 14 and she was 11. People would inquire as to how he was doing and he got a lot of attention, but she was never noticed or asked about.

Then Cara started having her own medical problems, but her mother ignored them, not wanting both her children to have medical issues. She had to pass out before her condition was taken seriously, and after a year of medical tests she had her own diagnosis to live with.

Then her mother was diagnosed with cancer two days before her 17^th birthday. She had to take over a lot of responsibilities, including her own senior year of high school, as her mother would spend the next nine months in chemo, surgery and radiation therapy.

She has had to go without and deal with more than most kids her age. Money was scarce since there was always a doctor visit, medical procedure, tests or expensive medicines that must be purchased first. But that is the path God put before her and I can see how it has matured her and molded her compassion toward others who are hurting.

So here’s to you, my baby girl, for holding steady when you felt like quitting, for loving other unfortunate souls, for wanting what’s right instead of what’s popular, for being your own person in a crowd of followers, for teaching yourself your senior year and for crying but not giving up.

Cara - I need you more than you need me, which shows God knew what he was doing when he gave you to me. I am the fortunate one.  Now go and do what God has put on your heart. Cry when you need to, then dry your tears and press on, as you have always done. I love you.