An open letter to my son - Isaiah 40:31

Dear Isaiah,

You were born on 6/12/09 at 9:16am and from that first moment I held you, I was irrevocably and undoubtedly changed forever.

Proverbs chapter 4:10-17 reads:

"....I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall. They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day."

God has entrusted me to guide you on the path of righteousness, to teach you how to be a man in both word and action, to foster your personal and spiritual growth, provide wisdom and understanding while protecting both you and your mother all the days of my life.

Along this road, we will strive to learn together;

God is love

Live with love in your heart and a song in your head

Faith is not belief in the absence of evidence

Faith is trust without reservation

Fear is the absence of Faith

Hope is the conscious application of Faith in the face of Fear

With purpose, life has direction

If you know why you travel along this road and where you want to go, you’re likely to succeed

The one thing Love is not, is unsure.

Love is not finding the perfect person, but seeing the imperfect person perfectly

Family is security

Honor your mother for it will be the foundation upon which you will build all future relationships

Be truthful to yourself and you will be truthful to others

Respect others but don't be taken for a fool.

Do your best and have no regrets

The only failure in life is not having tried

Never make the same mistake twice

Losing can be as much of a win as winning

Richness in character far surpasses material wealth

Your family name has intrinsic value

Leadership is servitude in its highest form

It is the privilege of providing opportunities for others

Take things seriously

And then laugh at yourself

Build a plan and execute

Focus on what you're doing but always think ahead

Education is not an option

It is an privilege

Discipline is avoiding what is harmful for you,

Pleasure always comes with a cost

We may not always be where we want to be

But we're always where we need to be

Know that we'll always be there for a high five, a kick in the pants, a shoulder to lean on and always....always....more cowbell. I look forward to learning these, along with many more life lessons as we travel this road together....