"CONGRATULATIONS!

and God Bless you

Amanda and the Senior Class

OF 2007"

Amanda, what makes this moment in time so heartfelt and special to me isn't just that you and your senior class is graduating today.

It's because its a true blessing to see so many thousands of people who have gathered together with the same spirit of cooperation, who have all waited 18 years to come together for this blessed event.

Oh, what an incredible journey it has been for all of us as well as for you seniors!

There have been so many things that have happened to each one of you.

Some were good and some were not so good.

Some were created by making good choices and others were made by us making mistakes and learning from them.

And there were many other circumstances that were beyond our control.

And through it all, you and your senior class of 2007 have persevered and beat the odds.

As you and your classmates start to plan out your exciting careers and what kind of jobs each one of you will be doing down the road.

There is an even more important and challenging road ahead for all of you.

The road of accountability and responsibility, where you really can make a difference by making the world a better place...

It all starts with a positive attitude,

And as important as it may seem, about the things that happens to each one of us in our lives.

It is far more important to how each one of us "reacts to what happens to us in life!"

such as...

Two people can be at a party, and both of them can experience the same misfortune, such as someone accidentally spilling a drink on them.

Depending on how they react to what happened to them,

One may brush it off and say that's ok, accidents happen and go on enjoying themselves after cleaning up.

The other person may get outraged at the same misfortune and start making a big old scene and "start tripping!"

All of a sudden, this person's whole day is ruined, because they are consumed with anger, bitterness, and a few choice words to the person who spilled their drink.

Then because the negative energy from this person starts to affect the other people around them, the people who you made feel negative start to go from a time of celebration to a time of disappointment.

Our attitude is so important to "how we react to what happens to us in each one of our lives."

That nothing else comes close in how people will remember us while were alive and when the good Lord takes us.

Every one of us will remember each other, not just by the diploma that we receive here today,

Or the awards, titles, or status that we attain along our journey in our lives.

We will remember each other by how we made each other feel.

Did we take the time to show we cared?

Or did we just go around being rude and unpleasant, making people regret that they ever crossed paths with you along the way.

It's ok to be afraid as you go out to explore the new world before you, always ask God for the courage that He gave David and you will feel the courage to complete your task each day.

Remember sometimes all it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing.

Because there are no accidents or coincidences in our lives,

Always look for the divine reason why a certain person, place or thing is in your life today.

Your destinies will cross over many miles and include countless lives,

And many of these lives will be affected by the way you reacted to what happens to you in your life for years to come,

And your own life will cross paths with them in your future, even decades from today.

And depending on how you made them feel could have a profound effect on your present and your future.

So as you plan out your future careers,

Remember that your purpose in your life is to be the best that you can possibly be.

If you decide to be a landscaper or architect, than you be the best that you can possibly be, not just on the property but to the people who hired you and who you work with.

If you end up rising up the ladder of success in the political arena, than you be the best that you can possibly be for the people who elected you.

Because by doing the best that you can possibly be doesn't just mean that you don't have to go back and do things all over again.

One of the most profound and blessed things that I have heard my daughter Amanda ever say to me about her going out into the world after graduation is when she said, that she would like to "Live life without regrets"

What a wonderful way to look at life and live it.

Your tomorrows are either blessed or cursed by the choices that each one of you makes today.

And even thou most of us feel invincible today and we should feel like we can do anything to make the world a better place.

We should always stay humble by what we see in the natural world around us.

And always understand that none of us know when it is our time to really go.

So always show mercy and compassion to all others.

Because when that day comes for us to stand alone on Judgment Day.

The one thing that we don't want to hear is,

Why should I give you the mercy that you denied so many others?

The one thing that you want to hear is,

"You have done well, my faithful and obedient servant"

So keep it real and know what's important in life.

As each one of your senior class step off of this stage.

You will no longer be remembered just as a senior graduating from high school.

You will now enter a new stage called the arena of life.

Will your legacy be remembered 100 years from now by making a positive difference in other people's lives?

It's all about showing mercy and caring if all others go to Heaven too.

Remember you never have to feel ashamed or worry about what others think about you as long as you care what God thinks about you.

So always hold your chin up,

Always look everyone in the eyes when you're talking to them.

Always know that no one is better than you,

And always know that we are all equal,

Always remember that your true validation comes from God alone and not man.

Always know that each one of you are a Prince or a Princess of God.

Always know that our faith comes from hearing the Word of God.

Never lose hope, for without it, people perish.

Always remember, adversity is part of being continually blessed, for it is from here that we keep our eyes turned towards God.

No matter what adversity or obstacle is before you,

Remember that God will never leave you or forsake you.

So go out there and make your mark in the world,

So 100 years from now,

People will remember how you lived your life with unconditional love and a life of total forgiveness.

May a whole new generation of faith based people always remember your courage and your legacy of living life without regrets.

During graduation, even though my daughter's classmates, family and friends all clapped when she and other's went up to receive their recognition of being inducted with the few others as a lifetime member into the National Honor Society as well as one of only two or three dozen graduates to receive the colledge level IB honors.

Then when it was time for her to go up again to receive her diploma, that those who came with us to celebrate this wonderful time in her life were so busy taken pictures to etche this long awaited memory in stone. That we coulden't clap at that percise moment,

It was then when the spirit of God revealed to me at that exact moment that He has always lovely watched over Amanda's blessed destiny before she was even born and that the Heavens opened up and God Himself and the angels of the Lord were all clapping for her as well as for every student there. 

I hope that every student had as wonderful a time and as we have had that night, and that may all your memories be speciall and caught on film to share with others for generations to come. May you cherish the wonderful memories as we have. Taken your proud graduate to their favorite place to dine and showering  them with the wonderful gifts that they so richly deserve.

May we never take for granted how safe and secure that the community all felt this evening thanks to the wonderful calm presence of Law Enforcment and Security that kept the peace by exhibited restrained through the finesse, dignity and compassion that can only come from a well organized department through great leadership. It really showed that they cared. God will bless you for the wonderful finess, dignity and compassion that was exhibited. Remember that we can never be permanently blessed through out destiny without respecting those that God has ordained to protect us and who are willing to lay down their life for us.

There is no greater power on earth and in Heaven than being blessed thoughout your destiny and celebrated by the Heaven's Host led by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as Amanda and her classmates have.

Amanda, may you and all the Senior Class of 2007 every where receive the joy and the blessings that each one of you have given us today as we honor you by recognizing that you and your Senior Class of 2007 are truly the best of us all!

The world is proudly waiting for each one of you to take your place of honor

"God bless the Senior Class of 2007"

"I love you Amanda!"

Dad,

God believes in you

Reverend Michael Cartwright

Back to Home Page

Top of Page

WOWFaith.com

 "Faith powered by God"

WOWFaith Ministries, Inc.