Spiritual Survival Guide
5: Complicated Stuff
participating in life. But this vision cannot be passive. You have to pursue your own vision. All I ever want for any of my children is happiness, peace, pur- pose and a chance to share love. Use all your gifts to chase a positive goal, not just to survive day to day. See something through all the way to the finish. Don’t give up on yourself, or us, or God. We’re still here. Waiting.
mate, the love of children and the joy that comes from nurturing that love. It takes great labor, a labor of love. I want you to know love, to seek it out, to strive mightily to maintain it. This can only be done with God’s help. Ask for his help. I am afraid because I can do virtually nothing to keep you safe or help you to grow while you are there or when you get out. A father loves his child but comes to know he is not God; he can- not keep his child safe from harm, the harm of others or himself. I know you are hurting. I know you were hurting and that’s why you are there now. I cannot stop your hurt. God loves you more, and more perfectly, than I. He can stop the hurt. Ask for his help. I am hopeful because I know you. I know that wonderful person that God means you to be. I have seen him when the hurt was less. I am hoping that person is the man you become. I also know through God all things are possible. I pray every day God will help you become that person. Son, ask God to help.
Love,
Mom
From a Father
I am sad that you are in such a useless space. Life is so short with so much to see, experience and try to figure out, and there you are, waiting, doing your time until you are again a free man. A father wants his son to shoulder his own weight, to take pride in his own worth and find value in others. I want you to look at the world and see the value God places on you and the guy stand- ing next to you. I want you see the value of working toward your goals knowing you may not achieve them, but it’s the lives that you touch and touch you while you try that are ultimately impor- tant. This can only be done with the help of the Lord. Ask for his help. I am angry because I tried to instill these things in you, but you have chosen to take a selfish path hurting not only yourself but all the people around you.
Love,
Dad
Being a Man, Being a Father
At some level, everybody in here struggles to answer the question about manhood. It’s going on all the time when we interact with each other. We’re competing and testing ourselves and each other. On one level we’re looking for strength. Who’s strong? Who isn’t? No one wants to be seen as soft.
A father wants his son to know love, the love of God, the love of a
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