kairos retreat letters from family examples

My son is in his last year of high school and facing the biggest academic test of his young life in November. Stationery porn is so evil and so, so goooood! But I digress. Let’s not forget the stationery, you’re looking at a HUGE fan of stationary. I know the request is in the mail and one day the postman will discover my mail box. I’m right here, see… waiving at you!Īn opportunity arose recently for me to write a letter to my 17 year old son, reflecting on the impending conclusion of his formal school education and journey through the books…. I have always wondered what I would say to a graduating class if asked. Whatever else you may think of Steve Jobs, his words in that speech were profound and the message strong and important. That will never change.When Steve Jobs passed away I, along with millions of others, watched his Stamford 2005 Commencement Address on YouTube. Thank God for your life.Īlways Always know how much I love you. Don’t hang out with people who bring you down. Do fun things, get out of your comfort zone. Keep in touch with your parents and siblings. When you feel he calls you to do something, do it. You just have to have faith that God is leading you. You do not have to have everything figured out. And I will be there cheering you on like always. And you will be the best student, and the best at whatever you do, and the best father, and the best husband. But everyone grows up and starts their own family….so will you. Not a day goes by where I don’t miss just chilling in living room, joking, watching tv, taking 7/11 trips, hitting the gym, going to the beach with you guys. I was a little obsessed with you but I will always be obsessed with you and Matthew. I was so happy to change your diapers and I had to pick out all your outfits. You are a man of great character and you will do great things in your life whatever they may be. He created you and he has a plan that is good for you and no matter how weak or helpless you feel he will be there and make you feel like no one else can. Because he hears you JR and he loves you more than any human can. And when you feel people just don’t understand and no one can help you….that is when you just call out to God. Whether that is a phone call or a visit I will do anything in my power to make sure you are OKAY.

In those times I want you to know I am here and I want to pick you right back up. But everyone has their doubts in life and moments when they feel low. I am blessed beyond belief to know you and call you my brother. You are more than enough and you are so special. You should always be confident because you are always enough. I got to see you go from a little boy who played soccer and baseball and football and did great in school and had lot of friends and loved God and way shy around girls to a young man who still loves all those things but you are a confident young man now. Throughout those years I’ve watched to grow into yourself. Coldness and bitterness will get you no where.Īnother thing I want to say to you is how lucky I feel to have spent most of your adolescent years with you. This is the one true and right way of living life. The compassionate way, the way of empathy and understanding. You’re a great brother I see how you take care of Matthew and try to show him the good and right way. If you can use your experiences and hardships and accomplishments to influence or help or be an example to someone else then that is freaking awesome and I will be proud of you no matter what. Empathy helps you relate to people and at the core of this thing called life…relating to people and to God is really all that freaking matters anyway. It will take you places that not money, not connections, not education can take you. Empathy is what the world lacks and that is a gift you have. You have to allow the hardships help you become a more compassionate person. But there’s also something that has to happen too. You learn from it and you become a wiser person because of it. When something rough hits you, you don’t allow it to keep you down for long. You have an inner strength that allows you to overcome adversity.

There are not many young men that have the strength you have and I’m not talking about gains. Listen, you Jr, are one of a kind…and I’m not just saying this because you’re my brother. But that’s okay, at least this will be a nice little surprise when you got home. I wanted this letter to be for you while you were at KAIROS because I know the feels hit hard while there.

Kairos retreat letters from family examples