I’ll watch my “baby” walk across the stage.

Amy Loflin
May 4
3 min read

There’s a phrase that’s been circling my mind recently: marking a milestone. So, I became curious about its origin.

In ancient times, milestones were literal stones placed along a road to mark how far a traveler had come. Not necessarily how far they still had to go. And certainly not how fast they were moving. Simply… this is where you are now compared to where you started.

In our progress-focused culture, it’s easy to breeze past the milestones. We tend to fix our eyes on what’s next. The next step. The next goal. The next hill to climb. We measure progress by what’s ahead, rarely pausing long enough to acknowledge how far we’ve already come.

Later this week, I’ll stand among thousands of parents and loved ones as I watch my youngest son walk across a stage on the same campus I graduated from exactly thirty years ago this month. For the past nineteen years, I’ve been a mom with at least one son in some form of schooling. And just like that, this season comes to a close. It feels like a milestone in every sense of the word.

sweet picture of baby ben — *While everyone else will see another young man in a cap and gown walk across the stage, this is who I will see. Would you just look at those little hands?!*

While our family conversations mostly drift toward what lies ahead for my son, it’s also important to pause and reflect on the distance already traveled.

So, to all the graduates: you may feel the pull toward what’s next. The questions, the pressure, the unknown. But before you rush forward, pause here. This moment matters. This current version of you, shaped by everything behind you, all the stones you’ve already marked, is worth recognizing.

To the parents: you know better than anyone that this milestone is not just theirs, but yours too. The journey, the prayers, the late nights, the letting go… all of it has led here. It’s okay to feel the weight and the wonder of it at the same time.

And even if you’re not connected to a graduation this season, here is a personal reminder for you: You have come farther than you think. There are quiet milestones all along your story… moments that didn’t come with a stage or applause, but mattered just the same. The day you chose courage. The season you kept showing up. The decision that changed everything. Don’t rush past them. Mark them.

Because recognizing how far you’ve come has a way of giving you the courage for where you’re going.

Reflections

What “stones along the road” has God used to shape your journey and which are the ones you’re most proud of?
Who is one person in your life whose milestone deserves to be seen and celebrated right now?

“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” — Psalm 126:3

Worth the Listen

Bold Faith Now - podcast interview with Amy Loflin

Amy was recently a guest on the Bold Faith Now Podcast with Missy Eversole. Listen to their conversation about the “holy hunger” God stirs in each of our hearts.

Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.