Let's Applaud Now!

My daughter recently graduated from a local university.  She was awarded a diploma and a title.  In one of the commencement addresses, they referred to graduation as a metamorphosis - the changing of a caterpillar to a butterfly.  They have learned something and become something and they aren't the same as when they started their higher educational journey.   My daughter learned to study hard and make difficult decisions and become financially independent.  It truly was a time of growing and achievement.  I am so pleased with who she is becoming.

Hmmmm.....  I've been working over four years on the parenting "degree"  more time than a bachelors, masters, or doctorate.  Have I "learned" a diploma?  Have I learned anything?  Or have I muffed it all?  I think the courses were more in humility, perseverance and joy.  There were courses of nutrition, child development, transportation engineering, (I made that up) and psychology.  There were courses on art, creativity, music and literature.  There are many courses I am still taking and hope to pass one fine day. 
 
They said a phrase at graduation that I've been repeating in my mind:  "Let's applaud now."  I like that.  Whatever our foibles and mistakes we certainly have learned something!   For every time we became more patient, and more loving, let's applaud now.  For every moment we spent reading and teaching skills, let's applaud now.  For every time we held a crying child and prayed for a son or daughter, let's applaud now.  The journey required more prayer, more patience,  more thought, more study, more pleading, more tears, more joy than any degree I think could ever provide.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.  I learned that God loves his children.  God loves each and every one.  And he is willing to tutor us so we can love and tutor them.  It is a priceless educational journey for which I am profoundly grateful.

Since I'm creating this educational scenario, I think I'd like the title  WL after my name.  Simply for Willing to Learn.  I don't think I qualify for a bachelors, or masters or doctorate of anything, but I am WL:  Willing to Learn     Willing to learn each and every day.  Willing to learn from mistakes.  Willing to feel joy and love and be grateful.  So for every parent out there who is willing,  "Lets Applaud Now!"