A Blessing for Parents and New College Students

Dec 30, 2018

"Dear Child,

May you be powerfully loving and lovingly powerful.

May love be your guide with family, friends and colleagues.

May you listen carefully to your own heart and to the hearts of others.

May you have the strength to overcome fear and pride,

and follow instead what has heart and meaning for you.

May you be an active, committed positive force in your community.

May you show respect to people of all ages and races

and help make a better world for the poor, the sick

the elderly and the young.

May you constantly bring your gifts and talents forward everyday

without hesitation, reservation or expectation of reward.

May you know everyday how grateful I am to God for the gift of you,

and know as well in your heart the depth of my own love for you.

 

Dear Parent,

May you know how grateful I am to you for all you have done for me

with the life you have given me,

for the lessons you have taught me,

for the love you have shown me,

for the comfort you have provided for me.

never forget how very much of you I carry forward with me into this new chapter of my life.

I go into it with a mix of excitement and fear,

for I do not know what the future may bring.

but I go into it with a mix of excitement and fear,

but I go into it confidently because of you.

May you always trust in all the work you have done in me,

for your ideals are my ideals and your hopes are my hopes.

Always remember that I am growing into them just as you are,

and, as we grow together, we will meet in a new way

on a new and higher ground, as, friends, and as equals.

But for all of that, I will always be yours,

and if i do not call as often as I know I should,

know that no one else will ever have the place in my heart that you do.

may God always bless you and give you all the best of gifts,

until we meet again,

Amen."

-Michael Graham, S.J.
Xavier University President