Save the Best for Last

When I graduated with my 'Bachelors in Psychology' from college on December 13, 2002, I chose to walk to get my diploma. My thoughts were; I struggled and worked my butt off for six very, long, difficult, years to make it this far, I deserved to walk!

Now at that time, I could walk with a walker, but how would I hold my diploma? So I devised a plan; I could walk exceptionally well if someone would act like my crutch, I'd have one of my children help me.

Which one would it be? Well, three years earlier, when I got my associates degree my daughter, Courtney had helped me walk to receive that honor. So I'd ask my son, Ace, to walk me this time. He agreed. I thought I was ready, until the school found out what I wanted to do. They balked at the idea for safety reasons, so I set out to remove that obstacle.

I had to write a formal letter to the president of the college, who knew me personally, asking permission; go through a long process with the disabilities department where Ace and I had to prove I'd be safe; agree to go to one end of the platform in my wheelchair, get up, walk only as far as the platform, immediately sit back down to go through the line of congratulating professors; and most importantly, not rush. That's all I wanted anyway, so I happily agreed. Oh ya! I had to be the last person in my field to cross the stage, this way I could take my time.

The building they held the ceremony in is a big domed sports arena. Since it was winter semester the amount of graduates and their families was small enough to fit in the arena all together. We would just graduate in turn by the alphabetizing of majors. We would wait for our field of expertise to be called, line up and cross the platform as our name was said.

All the other students sat in the bleachers, but Ace and I had to sit on the floor in the back row of hundreds of teachers. It seemed like forever before the Psychology department was called.

As the other students took their turn walking I noticed a pattern; a name was called, that individual walked, while their friends and family cheered from the stadium (just a tiny area rooted at a time).

Finally after all the other graduates had proudly accepted their diplomas, they called Merrym Dawn Bruce. I anxiously stood, grabbed Ace for support, and walked in a surreal state of mind across the intended area. My friends and family happily burst into cheers, then it was quiet for a second. SUDDENLY others joined in with screams of congrats and applause, rising to a fevered pitch, ending in a standing ovation. Blowing kisses to everyone over-and-over I stood there with an awestruck grin on my face. Nothing could wipe that look off my face or that feeling from my soul.

When Ace and I got back to our spot to wait for the ceremony to end, he said, "Mom, God told me to tell you this. What you just experienced is similar to what will happen when you get to heaven. There will be one difference though, the crowd, cheers and applause will be hundreds of times more."

I sat there in silence while streams of jubilant tears streaked my face and once again I thanked God for being mine!

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure.

Matthew 13:44

I am blessed

Merrym Dawn Mathis Bruce