Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
Philippians 3: 12-14 (NLT)“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
James 1: 12 (NIV)“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
Jeremiah 29: 11 (NIV)“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27: 1 (ESV)“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”
II Timothy 1: 7 (NASB)“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Colossians 3: 23-24 (NASB)“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
Isaiah 40: 8 (NRSVUE)
“If she makes it through the day, then…”
Amy, now in her room in the Tampa hospital on August 27, 2004, was not sure she heard anything else the Doctor said after that brief statement about her second daughter, Ellie, who had just been born.
In the birthing process a short time earlier, each time tiny Ellie entered the birth canal, the umbilical cord which, it was learned, had wrapped around her neck caused Ellie’s heart rate to drop dramatically.
An emergency C-Section was performed to get her, then Ellie’s lungs were suctioned as much as possible of the amniotic fluid, and other fluids and materials she had involuntarily ingested in her lungs, and she was placed in an incubator in the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit, where our precious second Granddaughter would stay for five days struggling to survive.
“If she makes it through the day, then…”
She did. And she began to press on with the support of her Mom, Dad, Sister, family, and others who loved her, and guided by Jesus Christ, who is her Savior and Lord, her light and salvation.
And on Thursday, April 30, 2026, a little over twenty-one years later, we watched Elise Katherine Whitaker (Ellie) walk across the stage during the Commencement Ceremony in the O’Connell Center at the University of Florida, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Environment Science Degree, with a Minor in Education, Summa Cum Laude, from the School of Natural Resources and Environment.
And in preparation for her walk before thousands that evening, she had the following scripture, Isaiah 40: 8, proudly printed on the top of her graduation cap.
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
There was not a dry eye watching the ceremony, as she sang the UF Alma Mater now as a graduate, blessed to support such a precious life that would never quit, loved the Lord, and always sought to reach for all her God had created her to be, and to always lift, add value to, and impact others around her for good.
A life as a young girl who would climb the front of bookcases over tile floors waiting below, do cartwheels off footstools sometimes landing on her head, jump off staircases into my arms (practicing for her hope for us to perform that and other such feats on America’s Got Talent). And seeing some areas of growth I needed, she would set up school in “our office” upstairs and with the whiteboard and chalkboard, she went through the lessons she felt I needed. I still have the files of her lessons, as well as every painting she and her sister, Hannah, ever created—many hanging in “our office” and home.
Then there were the gymnastics with Hannah, her older sister, best friend, great example, inspirational encourager, and ever-present supporter for Ellie. Horseback riding with Hannah under the watchful eye of “Aunt” Bev. Tae Kwon Do as a child. Teen years filled with Hip Hop dancing, Ballet, and Synchronized swimming leading to competing in that sport in the U.S. Junior Olympics in Long Island, New York.
And a survival attitude toward life, with a spirit not of timidity, but of power and love trusting in God, moving her to continue to persevere, and always press on no matter what she faced.
I would often hear this polite response when I offered to help her with something—
“Thanks. I got it, Gran.”
Then graduating from The Rock School in Gainesville, as Valedictorian of her class, and during her graduation speech, asking all in attendance with her that evening to pause and pray with her for those hurt and those lost in a tragic event the day before in a neighboring state.
And so much more.
“If she makes it through the day, then…”
As she grew in her relationship with the Lord, our Ellie has always sought to reflect Christ to everyone, everywhere. Christ is Who she worked, and works, for and strives to serve in everything on the journey she is on with Him. She knows that God always had plans for her good, plans for hope and a God-honoring future, and plans to have an impact for good in all the lives God would bring before her.
And Ellie honored me even more, on March 24, 2026, by requesting and allowing me the honor to Baptize her. When her Mimi heard of her request, she realized this would be the perfect time to also be Baptized, and I then had the double privilege that day of Baptizing my Bride, together with our youngest Granddaughter.
“If she makes it through the day, then…”
Wow! Thank you, Lord.
Lord, she is yours.
Thank you for the sacred gifts of her life, and the life of her precious sister, to us.
They will be pressing on with You forever.
Touching lives, changing lives, changing the world with and for You.
In His Name–Scott/Gran
My dear family and friends, you will be blessed, comforted, and inspired by this beautiful song “Press On” by the talented singing group Selah.
