“Hold Fast To Dreams”
                                  “A Word For Our Graduates”

The following words penned by the poet Langston Hughes are laden with a word especially for our graduates:

                                        “Hold fast to dreams
                                         For if dreams die,
                                         Life is a broken winged bird
                                         That cannot fly.”                     

                                        “Hold fast to dreams
                                         For when dreams go
                                         Life is a barren field 
                                         Frozen with snow.”

Several years ago a friend presented me with the following words engraved on a beautiful piece of wood:          

          “A MAN IS NOT POOR WHO DOESN’T HAVE A CENT,
           A MAN IS POOR WHO DOESN’T HAVE A DREAM.” 

This is the time in the lives of many people when they will receive their diplomas affirming years of hard work, as they graduate from one phase of their educational pilgrimage.  I would hope and pray that as they hold a diploma their hand, they will hold a dream of what they desire to become in their heart. 

Dare to dream. Hold the dream close to your heart. Tend it each day. Remember the words of the poet - “a man’s reach should exceed his grasp or what’s a heaven for.”

How do dreams become realities?  I pray that the following words will help
make your dream come true. 

First of all believe the dream is possible.  God has a wonderful plan for your life. You are special in His sight and His desire is to enable you to become all you desire to become.  It is out of your relationship with God through Christ you will find strength for the journey, wisdom for the day and a light on your path when darkness falls. 

Surround yourself with people who will affirm you in the journey.   Affirmation is vital to ones emotional and spiritual growth.  Affirmation will enable you to believe that others also not only believe in you - they believe in your dream.  They believe you have the capacity to reach and grasp what some would call an unreachable star. These are people who see in you those qualities of character that will energize you as you strive each day to make your dream come true.  

When it seems as if the dream is broken, remember the words of The Apostle Paul, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  God bless you in the journey. 

I was blessed with a great Mama. Some people refer to their Mother as Mom or Mother. My Mama, Sarah Wilson Tyre, was always Mama to me. The precious memories of Mama are never far from me. Mother’s Day is a time to express gratitude for and to our Mothers. On this Mother’s Day I have a special remembrance of Mama. 

I grew up in the small South Georgia town of Odum. Mama was the fourth grade elementary teacher at Odum Elementary School.She loved her students and her students loved “Miss Sara”. Mama knew her job was to teach the children reading, writing and arithmetic. Mama also knew her job was to make each child understand he or she was indeed a person of worth. Mama always looked for the best in her students and was given to empowering them to do their best. 

Mama was a lady of a simple yet great faith.  I cherish her Bible. It is among my prized possessions.  Mama not only read the Bible, she took seriously the teachings of the Bible. 

She was always reaching out to the least of these. For many years she was the pianist at Odum Baptist Church. She taught piano lessons and was always willing to teach the students whose parents did not have the funds to pay. Mama had the gift of engraving the songs of hope in the lives of children. 

Mama had a special place in her heart for her own children. Mama had four children and expected each of us to give our best to the opportunities before us. Study always came before play, church came before community happenings, respect for others came before criticism and  in Mama’s world their was no place for mediocrity. Yet her motto was, “I expect you to do the best you can, nothing more or nothing less.” 

I could write a book on the memories I have of Mama. When I experience the difficult times of life I remember the last time I heard Mama play the piano.  Mama was diagnosed with breast cancer at forty two years of age. She was very sick when I graduated from Mercer University. The time came when I had to decide whether or not it would be possible for me to attend Seminary. Mama was in the last stage of cancer and medical bills were mounting. I volunteered to stay home and help with the bills. She would not even talk about that possibility. The morning my wife Margaret, baby daughter Jenny and myself were preparing to leave for Southern Baptist Theological Seminary I heard the sound of a piano. I entered the living room and saw Mama in her physical weakness playing her piano. The song was an old song we sang many times at Odum Baptist Church, “If You Knew Him Only Knew Him You Would Love My Saviour Too.”  That was the testimony of Mama’s life. At the conclusion of my first year at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Mama went to home to be with her Lord. I will always remember my Mama and the blessings she brought to my life and our family.