In August 1776, a large British armada arrived at New York with troops to add to the British artillery. It was the beginning of an engagement that would become our war for independence – a war which lasted over five years until Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown in October 1781.

As I finish Jeff Shaara’s novel, “The Glorious Cause”, I am reminded again of what it took to win our independence. Each time I read about the sacrifices involved, it has left a deep imprint on my spirit and soul.

Why were they so willing to endure such unthinkable hardships and persevere when all evidence of hope was gone? Why was the belief in freedom so strong that it was literally that spirit alone at times that enabled them to succeed?

They were outnumbered, outspent and at times out maneuvered. Yet they never gave up, so deep was their determination that people should be free to live without government intervention.

What does freedom mean to you? Do we have that same spirit today?

Our challenges may be different and freedom may take on a new meaning for us today. Our fight may be against addiction or a destructive lifestyle. Perhaps it is fighting to save a marriage or become a better parent. Perhaps you find yourself struggling to live a life of integrity when morals and ethics seem to be disappearing all around you. Perhaps you are fighting to live within your means. Whatever the challenge, it will require that same spirit of determination.

Hopelessness can erode our fighting spirit and desire to keep trying. To fight against hopelessness we need to remind ourselves that the freedom fought and won so long ago still gives us opportunity.

Opportunity is never cheap.  It requires hard work, sweat and tears. It might require sacrifice and ingenuity. It might require a resolve you never knew you had.

May our 4th of July celebration be one of humble thanksgiving for the people who were willing to put their lives on the line for us and a silent prayer that we too, when called to live with principals and values and dignity, will have the courage and strength to endure and rise above whatever hardships are put in our way.

Marlene Anderson

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:6-7

This month our focus has been on graduations, with a suggestion that we stop and celebrate our steps forward – the progress we have made in life – no matter how insignificant they may seem.

In each chapter of our life we have met adversities, challenges and losses. They have created anxiety and fear and disappointment. Yet as we have met them, we have not only developed muscles of endurance and determination, but have learned how to turn discouragement into hope and new resolve.

So take a few minutes and celebrate all the times you picked yourself up and tried again, went back to the drawing table, figured out some new strategies and dug into your backpack of resolve and came back with new willpower and fortitude.

Celebrate and give thanks to God who has strengthened you, given you new understanding to meet each new day. As we reflect on all the steps we have already taken, we realize that God has been with us in the midst of our discouragement and sometimes despair. When life seemed to be at its worst, we received that hand up, that word of encouragement, that unselfish gift from a friend.

When life is at its toughest, it is hard to think of all the blessings we have been given. We only see the dark side of life. But when we make it a habit to be grateful, we find there is much to be grateful for.

Gratefulness is how we guard our hearts against discouragement. It is where we find peace and hope for tomorrow. It is where we get renewed strength. Ending your day with words of thankfulness can give you a good night’s sleep.

As we give honest reflection and acknowledge all our accomplishments, no matter how small, give that prayer of thanks to God who has been there with you each step of the way.

Marlene Anderson

Graduation means you have accomplished something – you have spent time studying and learning and are now ready to apply that learning.

But your education has just begun

You are leaving one institution of learning for another. The University of Life is less structured; you don’t meet at a particular time of day or have a specific text book of study. The options for study are endless.

I loved to teach. Teaching challenged and expanded my learning base. Because the classes I taught in psychology and life development were captivating subjects to me, I could share that enthusiasm with my students as I thought of ways to make the subject relevant for their lives.

Teaching enabled me to constantly be learning. I wasn’t just presenting specific data and information, constructing and formatting lesson plans, I was teaching application, how to think, how to problem solve, discern and differentiate.

As life presents you with a multitude of course material, become a teacher as well as a student.

Gather information about your topic, and break it down into understandable and applicable steps. If you were teaching this subject, how would you teach it? What would your students need to learn? Then teach yourself.

Learning is fun. But only you can make it fascinating and interesting. Only you can choose to be enthusiastic about it.

Learn how to become a better communicator, negotiator, spouse and parent. Learn to set your ego aside. Learn how to navigate the rough waters – the hard times. Learn the mindsets that allow you to think long term rather than just immediate gratification.

Learn how to make problems work for you instead of against you. Learn what goals will benefit you over your lifetime versus just for the moment.

There are many books of knowledge available to us and “students of life” who have gained wisdom and are willing to mentor and share. Seek them out.

There will be tests; there will be sleepless nights and anxiety about making the right choices. There will be painful moments when we realize we need to let go of exaggerated egos to replace with humility and humor.

But in the end, it is all part of the excitement and satisfaction of learning – learning how to live life and live it well.

Marlene Anderson

As I listened to my granddaughter give her speech at the graduation ceremonies from elementary to middle school, I was impressed by her ability to reflect on important markers in her young life, her aspirations for the future and her ability to deliver these thoughts. It wasn’t just her Mom and I who were proud but many friends.

Making graduation an earlier tradition in the life of students may seem frivolous, but I think it gives students an opportunity to think about education in a positive way and with the help of teachers, principals and parents working together can make education important. She had attended a good school with dedicated teachers and principal who made education both challenging but exciting.

Exciting and challenging

Life can be both exciting and challenging. When we leave the halls of academia, we sometimes forget to congratulate ourselves and celebrate little graduations in our lives.

As we move from one series of learning to another in the University of Life we are no longer awarded degrees or diplomas; yet at each step along the way we have completed a course in life learning.

Give yourself a mini graduation. Award yourself with a mental diploma for what you have accomplished.

Tough times turn our focus on everything that went wrong in our lives and what went right is forgotten.

Take a moment and celebrate the successes you have had, remembering that successes are not measured by accomplishments alone – but by the diligence and resolve and grit to pick ourselves up and keep trying.

Take a moment from your busy life and celebrate your hard work, the fortitude it has taken to travel tough paths; celebrate the good choices you have made; the sweat and tears and the work it takes to overcome fears, tragedies and losses.

Celebrate the milestones, no matter how insignificant they may seem.

Congratulations on graduating from one step in life to another.

Marlene Anderson

The graduation gown has been removed, replaced with our every day work clothes. Life is full of promise and possibility – we are energized and eager to conquer, to carve our niche in the world.

While this might sound like the typical rhetoric we hear at graduation, graduation is an exciting moment in life at any age.

There are many graduation moments: High school, college, graduate school, etc. There may be periods of time between each of them. But at each point in time, we had set a goal and worked hard to attain it. And now we are eager to apply what we have learned.

While graduation signals the ending of one chapter in life, it begins another.

As we continue to write our life story, we know there will be many faltering beginnings, setbacks, disappointments, and unfinished goals.

Life will not only challenge us but beat us up. And we will need the many bits and pieces of wisdom we have tucked in our mind’s bank account to withdraw whenever needed. 

What bits and pieces of wisdom would I share?

Most are from individuals much more wise than I, but whose wisdom has served me well and so I share them with you.

• Cultivate honorable friends – associate with people of integrity

• Go to church. Make it a way of life. It keeps us grounded and humbled as we are reminded that we are not the center of the universe. There is wisdom in God’s Word that is needed to balance an ever changing culture that says anything goes.

• Develop life habits that will take you through the tough times as well as the good – time management, diligence, perseverance, and focus.

• Develop and live principles that represent core values of honesty, integrity, hard work, grace and forgiveness. 

• Learn to roll with the punches. It takes time and patience to develop resiliency and flexibility.

• Listen – from the other person’s point of view.

• Take time to make important decisions. Consider the pros and cons, costs and benefits. Do your choices represent your values

Worth is an internal concept. Confidence is an outgrowth of both humility and healthy esteem. It is not something awarded or given to you. It is developed.

Success is taking whatever we were born with and finding a way to develop it into something positive, rewarding and enduring. It isn’t money, possession, status or prestige. It isn’t honors or accolades. It’s knowing that at the end of each day we’ve done our best. It’s not perfection.

Develop a spirit of gratitude. No matter what the loss – no matter what the adversity or tragedy, there is a hidden blessing as well as new opportunity hidden within it

Learn from mistakes but don’t dwell on them. Take the information gained and apply it in a new way – a new setting. Then place your focus on what you can do; not what you can’t or what was denied or taken away from you.

Marlene Anderson