Wills 1st Day of School and a Letter from Daddy

Will started private school (preschool) last week and we couldn't be more excited and proud of him. He just loves his class and his teacher and cant wait to go back to "the big school" as he calls it because it has stairs. Its in a church which we really like so he gets to attend chapel once a day to learn more about Jesus.

The following letter is to him. Feel free to read on if you like.



Will,

You’re only four years old, and at this point in your life you can’t read, much less understand what I’m going to try to tell you in this letter. But I've been thinking a lot about the life that you have ahead of you, about my life so far as I reflect on what I’ve learned, and about my role as a dad in trying to prepare you for the trials that you will face in the coming years. I hope you will find some wisdom and value in what I share with you.

You are young, and life has yet to take its toll on you, to throw disappointments and heartaches and loneliness and struggles and pain into your path. You have not been worn down yet by long hours of thankless work, by the slings and arrows of everyday life.


For this, be thankful. You are at a wonderful stage of life. You have many wonderful stages of life still to come, but they are not without their costs and perils.

There will be people in your life who won’t be very nice. They’ll tease you because you’re different, or for no good reason. They might try to bully you or hurt you.

Always be kind to these people. Pray for them, for their suffering is greater than yours. Learn to choose friends who are kind to you, who actually care about you, who make you feel good about yourself. When you find friends like this, hold on to them, treasure them, spend time with them, be kind to them, love them.

You will also face heartbreak and abandonment by those you love. I hope you don’t have to face this too much, but it happens. Continue to give them the unconditional agape love that God has promised us. Nothing will feel better to you than the gift of giving, and there is no greater gift than that of love.

You will fall many times in life just as you do now as a child. Don't get discouraged when you do but pick yourself up and keep on trying. Failure is a stepping stone to success, and you will never succeed if you quit trying. You will also never learn if you don't fail.



Find your passion, and pursue it endlessly. Don’t settle for a job that pays the bills. Life is too short to waste on a job you hate. Find something you love and success is almost guaranteed.

If there’s a single word you should live your life by, it should be this: Love.

Some would live by the rule of success. Their lives will be stressful, unhappy and shallow.

Others would live by the rule of selfishness — putting their needs above those of others. They will live lonely lives, and will also be unhappy.

Still others will live by the rule of righteousness — trying to show the right path, and admonishing anyone who doesn’t live by that path. They are concerned with others, but in a negative way, and in the end will only have their own righteousness to live with, and that’s a horrible companion.

Live your life by the rule of love. Love your spouse, your children, your parents, your friends, with all of your heart. Give to them what they need, and show them not cruelty nor disapproval nor coldness nor disappointment, but only love. Open your soul to them.




Love not only your loved ones, but your neighbors … your coworkers … strangers … your brothers and sisters in humanity. Offer anyone you meet a smile, a kind word, a kind gesture, a helping hand.

Love not only neighbors and strangers … but your enemy. The person who is cruelest to you, who has been unkind to you … love him. He is a tortured soul, and most in need of your love.




And most of all, love yourself. While others may criticize you, learn not to be so hard on yourself, to think that you’re unworthy of love … but to think instead that you are a wonderful human being, worthy of happiness and love … and learn to love yourself for who you are.

Finally, always walk by His side. Your faith is the most important possession you own. It is your sword, your shield, and the only way you can get through the hard times. For you can do all things through Him who strengthens you. God will ALWAYS be there for you even when others aren't. Never leave His side, for this is the greatest of all advise I can impart to you.



Know that your mother and I love you very much and always will. You are starting out on an incredibly wonderful journey, and we will be there for you anytime you need us. Godspeed my son.

Sealed with tears.

Love,

Daddy