Confirmation Tears

By: Sarah Hogue

It happened again. Another Confirmation Sunday is in the books and (once again) I couldn’t get two words out of my mouth without bursting into tears. My Confirmation Sunday sobs have become so routine, that I even have a sweet friend who gives me tissues the week prior! I find it annoying that I cannot hold it together during this holy and sacred moment, but try as I might, I am simply unable. Why is that? Let me explain. 

I spent at least a year working very closely with each of our confirmation classes. We not only dive deeper into the Bible to see its overarching story and our need for a Savior; we also spend time together on a day retreat and at an evening bonfire. I work with confirmands to find service opportunities within the church, so they can learn what it means to be part of the body of Christ. We laugh and learn together, and so naturally, I will miss them at the end of their confirmation journey. 

Confirmation Sunday also coincides with these students’ transition from Children’s Ministry to Dutilh Student Ministry. I do not cry because I feel that they are “leaving me.” No matter how old they get, I always consider them “my kids.” None of them ever truly gets to leave me. I even have one young man (in his 20s!) who at least once a year leaves a post-it note on the ceiling in my office! They are always “my kids.” So, my tears are not first and foremost a sadness from saying goodbyes. If that is all it was, I could probably control it better! 

The primary reason for my tears (I am even tearing up typing this!) is because these confirmands are making a life-changing decision to follow Jesus. Some of them I’ve known since they were babies. I’ve prayed for them, invested in their faith formation, and now I get see it all come to fruition as they profess faith in Jesus. That I get to have any small part in teaching them and moving them toward their decision to follow Jesus is an honor and a privilege that I do not take lightly. That’s why I cry. Watching them stand before God and the church and claim Jesus as their own overwhelms my emotions. Try as I might, I cannot control the floodgates, as my tears pour forth! 

While it is true that I find it annoying that I cannot get through my short statement in the service without losing my composure, I also pray that I will never be so cavalier about students proclaiming their faith in Jesus that it doesn’t move me to tears.