Dear Son,
Writing these letters in anticipation of your arrival has been a deeply fulfilling experience for me. It’s given me the opportunity to reflect on the lessons I’ve learned so far and share values I believe will help you navigate life with wisdom and strength. Coming ahead of you on this journey has allowed me to make a few mistakes, gather insights, and, hopefully, pave a smoother path for you.
Of all the virtues I’ve written about, this one stands above the rest: build a personal and consistent relationship with your Creator. Nothing else will guide you more reliably. Think about it—no one understands a product better than its manufacturer, and the same holds true for us. We’re beings with free will and rational thought, but no matter how intelligent or well-informed we become, we’ll never be all-knowing. Only God is omniscient. So, how much sweeter would life be if we simply let Him lead the way?
A few years ago, I was invited to an event and needed to sew a new outfit for it. A friend introduced me to a tailor, and I showed him the style I wanted. He took my measurements, and three weeks later, the outfit was ready. When I arrived to pick it up, he was out briefly, so I tried it on by myself. Unfortunately, thanks to my love of good food, I had added some weight in certain areas—and the top didn’t fit. I was visibly disappointed. The other tailors in the shop started brainstorming solutions, and I was already thinking of what else I could wear.
When the tailor returned and saw the look on my face, I explained what had happened. He smiled, then calmly said in Pidgin English, “No fear boss, na me run am. I go fix am. No fear.” He took the top, returned to his machine, made some adjustments, and within minutes, handed it back to me to try again. This time? It fit perfectly. He later explained that he had made allowances in certain parts of the fabric, giving himself room to make adjustments if needed. None of the other suggestions his colleagues gave were necessary. Why? Because he was the one who made it. That was his craft. That was his design.
And that, my son, is how life is with God. So often we try to navigate life without Him, forgetting He’s the One who created us in the first place. He knows how we’re wired. He knows what fits, what doesn’t, and how to fix what feels broken. Just like that tailor adjusted my cloth without stress, God knows exactly how to make the necessary tweaks in our lives—if we let Him.
Albert Camus once said, “I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn’t, than live as if there isn’t and die to find out that there is.” That perspective alone is enough to remind us of the importance of faith.
Son, don’t try to do life on your own. Yes, there are things you’ll accomplish through effort, talent, and resilience. But imagine how much more powerful your life would be with the all-knowing God in your corner. A life lived in reverence of God is one built on a solid foundation. He’s given us His Word as a manual to guide and correct us, so we don’t have to stumble through life blindly. Most of the costly mistakes we make happen when we choose to ignore His wisdom and go our own way.
Beyond giving you the best mum (and of course, the best dad—me!), one of the very first gifts I’ll be handing you is the Creator’s Manual—God’s Word. It will serve you from your earliest days and throughout your life.
I love you deeply, son. And I’m so glad I’ve kept my promise to write to you.
With love,
Dad