I do not often write about family, but I ask that my readers humor a proud Papa tonight. Tonight, Little Darling graduated.
Tonight, Little Darling received an award of recognition upon graduation.
That is not an uncommon occurrence.
What is uncommon is the award itself. The Bishop John Maury Allen Award is not given for being the most popular or being the best athlete. It is not even given for academic excellence. It is not given every year. If there is not a deserving student graduating, the award is not bestowed at all. This award has only been given six times in the past fifty years. The Bishop John Maury Allen Award is only given to a student who exemplifies the standards of character and a personal commitment to excellence in thought, and integrity of actions that the school hoped to instill in young people when it was founded fifty years ago.
Tonight Little Darling brought it home.
I'm proud. Damned proud.
Congrats Xavier. Sounds like you and the missus are doing an excellent job raising such a fine young lady. I'm very proud of my 14 year old and 16 year old son also. Being a parent is an awesome responsibility but what an incredible blessing!
ReplyDeleteHankH
Congratulations to Little Darling - and to her entire family for their support and guidance.
ReplyDeleteBe proud, Pops.
OldeForce
Sir
ReplyDeleteyou have all the rights in the world to be damned proud of your offspring.
To her.
It is young people like you who keep me believing that The Greatest Generation is in fact among us now. Congrats. I do believe such a milestone warrants your beaming Papa to buy you the firearm of your choice. ( or perhaps a red convertible)
Xavier, you have every right to be proud, and Little Darling as well!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!
... a result of good upbringing
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Xavier. You've a right to be proud.
ReplyDeleteThey all beat me to it, but that doesn't mean I'm not gonna say it too.
ReplyDeleteYou should be proud of her. That it has only been bestowed six times in fifty years shows that the standards that were mandated fifty years ago are still being adhered to in deciding whether or not to award it in any given year. That is also rare - standards set, and then held to.
Congratulations to you and your wife for the fine job you are doing raising her. Even greater congratulations to LD for being an example of what this award recognizes - her heightened character standards and commitment to excellence and integrity.
Thanks for sharing, Xavier.
Now I'm gonna go shed tears of joy, because I'm the crybaby in our family. No apologies either. It's the manly thing to do.
Congrats! To both of you! This young lady's achievement says a lot about you and the missus as well as Lil' Darlin', and it's all exemplary!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis award seems a very fine thing to win, my congratulations!
ReplyDeleteHat tip to Little Darling, with backpats and handshakes all around.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and to Little Darling...keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on raising such an outstanding young lady! Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Little Darling! A testimony to good parenting!
ReplyDeleteYour heart must be bursting with pride tonight.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to the entire family. You all deserve it.
A good moment, to be treasured.
ReplyDeleteGood work on your part raising such a person, and good for her, to have found that within herself. You have every right and cause to be proud!
Well done to both of you.
Congratulations to you both!
ReplyDeleteYou have every right to be proud of her and yourself.
Congratulations to your daughter and yourselves! Well done by all.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for sharing. You've brightened our day.
Congratulations to Little Darling on being such a fine young lady to have earned such an award.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you and your wife for the job you did in raising her.
Enjoy the moment, Dad. Good stuff!
WOW!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
It is so nice (but so rare) when the rest of the world actually notices what has been glaringly obvious to you for so long. Gives you hope in dark times. Congratulations to her, (may need to resuture a few buttons, there Dad, small price to pay!)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! Congratulations, LD, X, and Mother!
ReplyDeleteWell done, both of you! Kudos the school too, for keeping a high standard for their students to work towards.
ReplyDeleteJim
Congratulations! You have the right to be proud and to brag. Raising a child like that is no easy task.
ReplyDeleteYou should be proud, She seems like a bang up young lady, Good job to you and your wife.
ReplyDeleteFrom one father to another, Congratulations. The example you and your Little Darling set is one I will strive to acheve with my daughters. Very Respectfully, Jason M. Rogers.
ReplyDeleteProud, as you should be.
ReplyDeleteCongrats and best of luck to her in college, I'm sure she'll do fine.
Kudos Xavier. And kudos to Little Darling. Living in California, I need good news like this.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you, Sir, and to Little Darling. Seems to be one hell of an honor!
ReplyDeleteWhat a way to get off to a good start in college...or whatever she chooses to do with her life. Make the most of it!
Seems you're a good example of a great parent.
Xavier, well done!
ReplyDeleteEveryone who is or has been in a parenting role knows the struggles, heartaches and frustrations that comes with the job. And at times there are joys.
Guidance in any child’s life is obviously one of the most important tasks an adult can perform, and the results always speak for themselves.
Little Darling:
A close friend routinely uses this tired and old worn-out phrase: “You are what you do.” Clearly, people have noticed what you’ve done and who you are. Congratulations!
Just keep being you.
Congratulations to you both. I've long thought (and said), "Good Kids don't happen by accident!"
ReplyDeleteLittle Darling is a Lady and I think well on the way to being a productive citizen...
Congratulations to both of you.
ReplyDeleteJoe
Wonderful news when information is coming out indicating upwards 40% of our youth in college are depressed to the point of suicide.
ReplyDeleteWhen the rate of unwed mothers -- hence a redefined 'family' unit -- are now at the highest rate since ... ???
However, there are stories out there similar to the one of Little Darling.
We need to encourage all such Little Darlings that they are not necessarily fitted with a gurantee of "success" as measured in dollars, but instead they are grounded with the ability and character to overcome failure and its' effect as a drag on our society.
AND THANKFULLY, when they realize this in earnest, they can and do pull others out of the mire over and over simply because they get it.
Unsung hero's on our horizon.
I raise my cup and tip my hat to her future.
Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteWonder where she learned to act like that? Your entire family should be very proud of this young lady. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteAnd you should be very proud!
ReplyDeleteTell Little Darling Bravo Zulu!
Congrats. Be proud.
ReplyDeleteI judge people by the quality of their friends and their children. You sir have every right to be proud, congratulations to you and to your daughter.
ReplyDeleteP.S. As generalizations go, the only awards worth a darn are the ones given out only when there is someone deserving.
Just . . . Awesome. . .
ReplyDeleteYou have every right to be a proud Papa. Congratulations to your family. An outstanding achievement.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure all the commentators were thinking of "proud" as we have changed the meaning over the years to indicate "blessed", or "glad", or "grateful"...instead of the "pride cometh before the fall" type of pride....Like the arrogance of pride in the devil, himself, is the way meanings have changed over the years, to cloud the original truth the word described....
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you are glad to see your daughter grow with the truths and direction you have instilled in her...and I am glad you have, for the world is a better place for those who know truth and God ...
You should be. She has her father's savvy, her mothers beauty and spirit and a spunk all her own. As a Mom of a recent college grad, you brought a tear to my eye. Enjoy this time. Congratulations to her.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. It's no easy feat these days,
ReplyDeleteXavier:
ReplyDeleteI cant say much more than the brethren here have already said, but "Congratulations"to you and the Mrs.
Your daughter does you honor- she clearly has been wisely instructed and has seen a living example as well.
Little Darlin':
Character shines through the dark, and God knows we have plenty of dark.
Keep shining - a light should be placed on a lampstand, not under a bushel.
Regards to the whole Xavier family
Greg Taggart
Congratulaations!
ReplyDeleteYou should be proud. Congratulations to Little Darling, to your wife, to you. Best wishes for a long, productive and happy life.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Little Darling for her strength of character and courage to let her moral compass guide her.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you and your wife, Xavier, for raising a fine woman. I pray all the best for her.
Steve
congrats, papa.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Little Darling. You've earned an award that actually means something. We are in a day and age where everyone gets a trophy just for showing up. Because of this, most trophies mean nothing. It's nice to see an award that is actually held back until someone who is worthy comes along. You are that someone, and this award certainly means something. Well Done.
ReplyDeleteHooyah! Way to go lil' Darling. Yet further proof that you are doing a great job as a father, X.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to the family. Obviously you all did something right!
ReplyDeleteGood parenting generally shows through, even if it's not immediately apparent.
ReplyDeleteIn this case, it was immediately apparent.
You should be proud of Little Darling's award, because you and your wife played a huge part in it.
Wow, just wow! Congratulations! With a start like that, you're going to go far if you push yourself!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Only 6 given in 50 years, THAT is accomplishment!!!
ReplyDeleteSooo . . . . does this mean you've been telling the truth about Little Darling all this time?
ReplyDeleteI assumed you were making it up as you went along . . . like I do with my kids. :)
That made me cry.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to X and LD.