In keeping with my theme for this month, I want to send another letter. This one is to my oldest son. I am so thankful for him.
Dear David,
As I write this, you are going through a hard transition in life. Some of this is just part of life and some of it is because of your mom and I. You are adjusting to 6th grade, changes in your attitude toward girls and unfortunately mom and I's divorce. It is a lot for one kid to handle and I think you are doing such a good job.
As I look back on my how I have done as your father so far, I am a little sad because I know that I could have done much better. I was just recently that I realized how little I knew about being a Godly father. It is my whole heart's desire to teach you to be one in the few years we have left before you step out on your own. I want to prepare you to be a Godly man. If I can do that, I have succeeded beyond my wildest imagination for you. The strange thing is I think in spite of all we have done, you are already becoming a very Godly young man.
I am so very proud of you. Whether you know it or not, you started school when you were three years old because you had speech issues. This was due to a hearing problem you had as a little tyke. Now when I was in school kids in those classes were sort of looked down at and made fun of. When I was in school, those kids barely made it through. But not you. You went from needing help with speech to all honors classes. You are a really brilliant young man. I also see things in you that I never could be at your age. I look at you and see courage.
How? Well, it took courage to ask that girl to the homecoming dance. I would never, ever have done it because I would have been too afraid. When we talked afterwards, you told me that your heart was pounding in your chest pretty hard and that even though when you asked her the dance had already passed, she was nice to you with her reply. Son, I want you to remember that feeling and what you did. There will be many more opportunities in life for you to feel that way and make a decision. You are going to be in places where you risk rejection in your life. It just happens. But you possess that special quality called courage. Don't ever change that. Take risks because if you don't, you won't have rewards. I know you didn't see it that way then but that's what you did and I am extremely proud of you.
Son, you are growing up so fast and it seems like it will only accelerate from here. As you get older, I want you to understand something. I heard a story about the head of the Salvation Army. You know those guys who stand ringing the bell at Christmas time asking for donations. Well they take those and use them to help people who need it. One year, the head of the Salvation Army was going to send a telegram to all his offices around the world. He wrote it out and then went to send it. When he got to the telegraph office, he realized that it was too long and he had to cut it down. So he trimmed it down to one sentence. Again, it was too expensive to send. He finally trimmed it down to a single word - others. Son, that's what our life is all about. We are to help others. You have to let the Lord show you who and how but always remember that's what life is about. As you get older, you will see people who define success by how much education and money you have. I thought the same way for a long time. Don't get me wrong, money and education are important but not as important as people. Think of others and ask the Lord to show you who you can help today.
Lastly, I want to talk to you about what you are going through in school today. I know some of the kids make fun of you. That really hurts your feelings and quite frankly, it just plain sucks. When I was in school, kids did the same thing to me. Grandma and Grandpa did they very best they could but I didn't wear brand name clothes like the rest of the kids and some people made fun of me a lot. I also got made fun of because I had big ears and I had a lot of pimples. It really hurt my feelings. Son, as you go through these times, know that you were not alone. Guess who else was made fun of and people talked bad about? - Jesus. I guess that puts us in pretty good company huh. You may not see it now but this will pass. Just keep doing the right thing because it's the right thing.
I cannot begin to express how impressed I am with you. You are smart, handsome, loyal, you love God, you aren't afraid to share your faith, you know how to build stuff, you always try to help your brother and sister, and you are a really respectful young man. No matter what you do, know that I will always love you.
Love,
Dad
That's another letter from the Minion
Dear David,
As I write this, you are going through a hard transition in life. Some of this is just part of life and some of it is because of your mom and I. You are adjusting to 6th grade, changes in your attitude toward girls and unfortunately mom and I's divorce. It is a lot for one kid to handle and I think you are doing such a good job.
As I look back on my how I have done as your father so far, I am a little sad because I know that I could have done much better. I was just recently that I realized how little I knew about being a Godly father. It is my whole heart's desire to teach you to be one in the few years we have left before you step out on your own. I want to prepare you to be a Godly man. If I can do that, I have succeeded beyond my wildest imagination for you. The strange thing is I think in spite of all we have done, you are already becoming a very Godly young man.
I am so very proud of you. Whether you know it or not, you started school when you were three years old because you had speech issues. This was due to a hearing problem you had as a little tyke. Now when I was in school kids in those classes were sort of looked down at and made fun of. When I was in school, those kids barely made it through. But not you. You went from needing help with speech to all honors classes. You are a really brilliant young man. I also see things in you that I never could be at your age. I look at you and see courage.
How? Well, it took courage to ask that girl to the homecoming dance. I would never, ever have done it because I would have been too afraid. When we talked afterwards, you told me that your heart was pounding in your chest pretty hard and that even though when you asked her the dance had already passed, she was nice to you with her reply. Son, I want you to remember that feeling and what you did. There will be many more opportunities in life for you to feel that way and make a decision. You are going to be in places where you risk rejection in your life. It just happens. But you possess that special quality called courage. Don't ever change that. Take risks because if you don't, you won't have rewards. I know you didn't see it that way then but that's what you did and I am extremely proud of you.
Son, you are growing up so fast and it seems like it will only accelerate from here. As you get older, I want you to understand something. I heard a story about the head of the Salvation Army. You know those guys who stand ringing the bell at Christmas time asking for donations. Well they take those and use them to help people who need it. One year, the head of the Salvation Army was going to send a telegram to all his offices around the world. He wrote it out and then went to send it. When he got to the telegraph office, he realized that it was too long and he had to cut it down. So he trimmed it down to one sentence. Again, it was too expensive to send. He finally trimmed it down to a single word - others. Son, that's what our life is all about. We are to help others. You have to let the Lord show you who and how but always remember that's what life is about. As you get older, you will see people who define success by how much education and money you have. I thought the same way for a long time. Don't get me wrong, money and education are important but not as important as people. Think of others and ask the Lord to show you who you can help today.
Lastly, I want to talk to you about what you are going through in school today. I know some of the kids make fun of you. That really hurts your feelings and quite frankly, it just plain sucks. When I was in school, kids did the same thing to me. Grandma and Grandpa did they very best they could but I didn't wear brand name clothes like the rest of the kids and some people made fun of me a lot. I also got made fun of because I had big ears and I had a lot of pimples. It really hurt my feelings. Son, as you go through these times, know that you were not alone. Guess who else was made fun of and people talked bad about? - Jesus. I guess that puts us in pretty good company huh. You may not see it now but this will pass. Just keep doing the right thing because it's the right thing.
I cannot begin to express how impressed I am with you. You are smart, handsome, loyal, you love God, you aren't afraid to share your faith, you know how to build stuff, you always try to help your brother and sister, and you are a really respectful young man. No matter what you do, know that I will always love you.
Love,
Dad
That's another letter from the Minion
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