(spoken by us to Julianna at the JAHE Graduation Ceremony, June 1, 2007)
Julianna … Julie Boolie … seeing eye sister … Monkey Girl … your babysitter for tonight … ship’s counselor … StarJulz … party and prom organizer extraordinaire … hair and makeup artiste … worship leader … Miss Julie … beloved child of God and joint heir with Christ … lover of the Word … and our very special prima ballerina,
We would like to acknowledge before the Lord God Almighty, as well as our friends and acquaintances in the audience tonight, that you have completed your formal education with us. Congratulations on a job well done. [hand over diploma] Congratulations on being our oldest daughter, and having to endure many of our parental misadventures. Congratulations on being such a valuable helper and encourager to your parents, your siblings, and to so many others over the years. Congratulations on the way that you have positively represented the Rubio, Bowman, Sanchez, and Atwood family names, and made us all look good in the process. Congratulations on the way you have won our hearts, and the hearts of so many other people who know you, in your 17+ years of existence on this earth.
Shortly after giving you a first name that is Latin for “youthful” and a middle name that is Elvish for “star of the evening,” your mother turned on her pillow and asked me with trepidatious second-guessing about our name choice, “what if she turns out to be ugly?” Well, [look at Kathleen] 17 years later I’ll have to say that has not turned out to be any concern at all [look at Julie]. But her second-guessing was not just a worry about external beauty; she wanted a daughter who would have inward beauty. On that, I will give the credit to the Lord. We have always loved the way that you add beauty to everything you do and everyone you are with. Our hope and prayer is that you would always look to do this, and that the beauty would be that of our Father that is never dull or faded. We are proud to send you off – perhaps for a year, perhaps for a lifetime – to help bring beauty and a love for the arts and for dance back to the Church. You are blessed to have a sharp mind, as many types of knowledge, skill, and understanding come easily to you. It will serve you well as you quickly transition from bucolic cornfields to the naked city.
For all that has come easily for you in your life, not much has been easy for you this year … or this month. But times like these show you the Lord’s way of making sure your eyes are fixed on Him, the Author and Perfector of your faith. Many things will continue to come easily to you in the years ahead, but some will be difficult or even impossible to overcome. He is teaching you to never back away from the difficult, and to accept and even embrace the impossible. It is a challenge that many talented people in our world never grasp; we will always pray that you grasp it with heart, soul, mind, and strength.
The Lord bless you, and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
