Many mothers attend their children's graduation ceremonies—but how many attend the ceremony and receive an honorary degree at the same time?

That's what happened to Judy O'Conner, who received an MBA from Chapman University—to her complete surprise—just after her son was awarded his. Why? Because her son, Marty, is a quadriplegic and couldn't take his own notes while in class, so Judy "attended every class with him and took his notes."

After Judy had wheeled Marty across the stage so he could receive his diploma, "a choked-up graduation announcer said the school's faculty, administrators, and board of trustees had decided to give her an MBA": an idea that her son had originally thought up and presented.

According to the Los Angeles Times, "[a] stunned but composed Judy O'Conner blew a kiss to the crowd giving her a standing ovation."

Judy had been living in Florida when Marty "fell down a flight of stairs and was paralyzed" back in 2012—she then "moved to Southern California to help her son earn his MBA."

For Judy, the classes were a privilege: "I'm a geek. I love being in school … I'm not going to lie. I've enjoyed every minute of it."

Potential Preaching Angles: May we find comfort in the fact that our own heavenly parent stands even more steadfastly alongside us. As the psalmist writes, "I keep my eyes always on the Lord. / With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken" (Ps. 16:8).