Dear Son,

We live in a world that is reined by fear. We live in a tyranny of ourselves. My hope and dream is that you will read this in a time where you can love and worship the God that created the earth in peace and reverence. I don’t know you yet but know that the love I have for you is great and my hope is to one day teach you how to live a life of principle, fearing the God that created you and loving the people around you. I have a love for you so deep that even though you have not been born I would give up everything to be with you.

Your mother is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. My heart is hers and I hope to teach you how you should treat a lady, in how to love and respect your wife as your equal, not to be ruled by you or governed over but protected. I pray every day for your mother even though I have not yet married her. The love I have for her is eternal and great. I hope that one day you meet a woman whom you love and hold as your equal partner in life and that you have children you can call your own.

Learning is important, do not take school for granted but learn and embrace knowledge with excitement and share what you have learned; do not hold back from others that may not be as fortunate as you. I implore you to have friends that share your religion and to share with them your deepest secrets for friends will save you from evil desires. But also have friends that will challenge what you believe so that you can truly grow. Something I wish I would have been told sooner. Just please go to a respected college. Not Oregon!

Son if I have left you before you read this know that I love you, truly. I have lived a life that has few regrets and beg you do the same. I know you will stumble but pick yourself up and walk with the love that Christ had for the world. Accept your forgiveness and move forward do not dwell on your past, for it will always lead you astray but look forward to the future and how you can positively impact others by what you do.

Share with your sibling and your relatives to not hold grudges over petty things. Always keep your doors open for people that need it do not shut out the people that need more than you. Family is important to keeping a steady life do not hate your brother even though he may entice it, but show forgiveness even if he continues to hurt you! Do Not Let Fear Rule Your Life. It doesn’t matter where you stand on a manmade scale, if you have accepted Christ as your own savior than what does a title and place in this world mean. Do not listen to people who try to make you believe that you need to be ready for anything, fear is not good in any form, but know where you stand a be satisfied in that.

In the end I cannot force you to be who I want you to be, but know I believe that Jesus Christ is the savior and that if you believe, we will be reunited in heaven once again. Today is the start of a new year and to me it represents a new beginning. I will go on from now to the day I meet you not holding back, not walking safely, but living a life that you can look at and respect. I hope to one day share in this adventure I call life with you as a friend as well as my son. I love you always and forever.

With love,

Dad, Daniel Daubenspeck