Dear Jared,
I wrote a letter to your sisters about what I hope for them as they grow up and thought it was only fair that I write you one too..
When you were six, you decided that you were going to be baptized. I wasn't sure that you were ready or that you knew what it all meant so I asked you what you thought it would mean to be baptized and you told me that it meant you wouldn't just be Jared anymore but you would be "Jared The Jesus Follower!" I knew then, that you understood and it is my hope that you spend the rest of your life following Jesus, not because you HAVE to but because you WANT to!
I hope that you always have a tender heart for others and look for ways to be compassionate and generous with your time, talent, and treasure!
The things that you value the very most are like arrows that point to your heart and the kind of person you are.
Don't be greedy with what you value. If you don't have time, then make time. If you don't have the money, then don't spend it. If you have money, give it away to those in need.
Do things for people who can never pay you back. Don't hold your hand out for repayment, do it cheerfully because you can and want to help!
I hope that you never stop being silly. Laughing at yourself is the best way to combat pride. Laugh a lot!
Remind yourself as often as you can that perfection is poison. There is no such thing as perfect- when you can say that you did your best..then that is good enough.
Be humble. When you win, thank all the people that helped you win. You don't win on your own... you win when you work together.
When you lose, practice good sportsmanship. Remember that you are Jared the Jesus Follower and have already won in the way that really matters.
Do your best.
Look for ways to help. Hold the door, give someone your seat, carry heavy luggage for someone, open the car door for a lady-not just your girlfriend-but any lady that rides in your car. (That goes for me and your sisters and your grandmothers!)
Take your hat off when you go inside some one's home.
Say please and thank you. Call anyone older than you "Mr. ______ or Mrs. __________" unless they tell you otherwise.
Encourage the women in your life and defend their honor! Do not allow anyone to talk ugly about them. Do not stand for it!
When you start dating, look at the person's heart first! Pretty is, what pretty does, and sometimes the most beautiful girls are the ones with the most beautiful hearts. When you find this pretty hearted girl, be respectful of her. Let your conversations start with "You go first.." In relationships, put the other first and encourage one another to grow and be the very best you can be.
Love is not jealous or possessive..love trusts and encourages.
Have lots of friends. Friends that will make you laugh and make you think, but never encourage you to do things you don't want to do. You can be friends with people who do not think the way you think or look the way you look-and that doesn't have to change who you are.
Ask guys that are older than you for advice about things that you aren't sure about. Get a second opinion. Try to make decisions with more thought than impulse.
Change a diaper long before you have to-don't be shy to hold some one's baby. Be familiar with children and learn to take care of them. (Someday you will be a dad and I EXPECT you to be hands on!)
Be slow to anger..walk away! Cool off. Think before you react!
Apologize and take responsibility. Forgive and be compassionate. Always consider the other person's point of view.
Be a good team player. Elevate everyone on your team and lead with a spirit of selflessness. Know what you are good at and know what you aren't so good at. Ask for help-don't try to do everything.
Remind yourself constantly of what really matters in life.
Lose yourself in service to others
If you are ever unsure what to do, ask yourself what love requires of you? Then follow your heart.
Lead yourself before you lead others...
Hang out with your dad, ask him lots of questions about when he was a kid, sports, girls, and anything having to do with your math homework. Do fun things with your dad, show him respect, and honor his authority. Someday, he will be one of your best friends...but not until you are in college.
Our job right now is to make sure you learn how to be a grown up while also making sure you have a good amount of fun while you are still a kid.
I love you and no matter how big you get, you will always be my buddy bear.
I am proud to be your mom.
Lastly, you kept us up all night as a baby-I paced the the house, rocked, swayed, patted, and even offered you a full ride college scholarship to stop crying and sleep! We tried every brand of bottle, formula, diaper, pacifier, and high tech sound machine to get you to sleep and nothing worked. You survived your first year because you were cute and because when I was the most frustrated and exhausted, I would sing this song to you...
I think it's fitting for this letter..now, go get out there gettin' where your gettin' to!
I love you buddy,
Mom
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