When we took a trip over to Auburn last May to help pack up John’s dorm room after his first year, I wasn’t quite sure what we would find. Of course, there was the laundry pile, the unmade bed, a bedside table covered in glasses, and plenty of memories from a year well lived.
But what stopped me in my tracks was the wall at the foot of his bed, covered in handwritten Bible verses, carefully taped up one by one. I don’t know exactly what I expected college life to bring, but in that moment, I knew he had found balance. Auburn is a sweet, special place, and seeing those verses – written in his own handwriting – was a gift I didn’t even know I needed.
Carefully (and with a little prayer of my own that the tape wouldn’t ruin the paint …. and his damage deposit!), I removed every verse from the wall and tucked them safely into John’s memory box back home. There was something deeply moving about seeing the words that spoke to him most, displayed where he would see them each day.
Before sending him back for his second year, I decided to type up his three favorite verses. One now hangs framed in his room, and the other two are pinned to his board for daily encouragement.
I’ve uploaded all three here in case you’d like to use them, too.
Towards the end of the year, John shared that he’s found a great, small group of friends….. guys who hold each other accountable not only in school, but also in their faith and daily lives. As a mom, I honestly couldn’t ask for more.
A word I’ve used to describe my 10,000 foot view of his college life is balance. So, don’t leave this post thinking he’s perfect. Has he been to the parties? Yes. Missed a class or two here and there? Absolutely. Made outstanding grades, grown in his faith, and likely met friends who’ll last a lifetime? That too.
I’m so thankful for Auburn and for the circle of friends who have surrounded my boy as he navigates this incredible chapter of life. Moving from the driver’s seat to the passenger seat in his young adult journey has been even more fulfilling than I could have imagined. Sometimes it’s the little glimpses, like handwritten verses taped to a dorm wall, that let you know your child’s heart is exactly where it’s meant to be.
Speaking of which, I CANNOT WAIT to hug his neck this weekend. War Eagle, son!
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