My Dearest Trey,
Where has the time gone? Just yesterday you were a little boy riding your little red fire truck through the house pretending to be a fireman. Now you are as tall as I am, looking more and more like a man and less and less like my little boy.
I am so proud of you. As you enter your teenage years, there are a few things I'd like you to remember.
Character Matters
"A good name is more desireable than great riches: to be esteemed is better than silver or gold."
Proverbs 22:1
Integrity is important. Be the man in private that you display to the public. Love God. Respect others. Be honest. Show yourself true to your word. These character traits will take you far in life.
Keep Your Mind Pure
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word." Psalm 119:9
With more freedom and access to technology, you will have more opportunity to view images, read books, and watch movies that are both unwholesome and not at all glorifying to God.
What you put in your mind today will have long lasting effects on your relationships in the future.
Use Your Strength Wisely
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." 1Corinthians 6:19-20
You have grown immensely in the last couple of years. Your boyish roughhousing now has the potential to hurt. Really hurt.
Protect those who need protecting. Physically help those who need helping. Work hard, as if you are working for the Lord. Because you are. God gave men strength for a reason. Make sure you use that strength to glorify Him.
Be A Leader
"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
Step up and be the leader. Don't le your friends influence you. You influence them and lead them toward Christ.
Eventually you will be the leader of your home, leading your children to Christ. Use these teen years to practice your leadership skills. You will need them for the rest of your life.
Don't Neglect Your First Love
"Trust the Lord will all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
If there is anything you take away from this letter, let it be this: Do not neglect your relationship with God.
He created you and knows you like no other. He loves you with an everlasting love. He saved you from every sin you have ever committed and every sin you ever will and he did it at the expense of His own Son.
Never forget that!
As much as I love you (and you can not even fathom how much that is!), God loves you more. He is ready and willing to guide you through life if you will let him.
Spend time in prayer with him. Take your celebrations, your problems, and your worries to the Lord.
If you put God first in your life, everything else will fall into place. You'll be tempted to put your time and money on other things- sports, work, and yes, even girls. And those things aren't bad as long as you don't put them in the highest place- the place where God belongs.
Keep your priorities straight: Jesus, Others, then finally yourself.
I love you so much. God has gifted you in so many ways, and I cannot wait to see how you use those gifts. I love the man you are becoming, and I thank God for you every day.
Happy thirteenth birthday!
Much Love,
Mom
*adapted from Lynnea McCoy*
Where has the time gone? Just yesterday you were a little boy riding your little red fire truck through the house pretending to be a fireman. Now you are as tall as I am, looking more and more like a man and less and less like my little boy.
I am so proud of you. As you enter your teenage years, there are a few things I'd like you to remember.
Character Matters
"A good name is more desireable than great riches: to be esteemed is better than silver or gold."
Proverbs 22:1
Integrity is important. Be the man in private that you display to the public. Love God. Respect others. Be honest. Show yourself true to your word. These character traits will take you far in life.
Keep Your Mind Pure
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word." Psalm 119:9
With more freedom and access to technology, you will have more opportunity to view images, read books, and watch movies that are both unwholesome and not at all glorifying to God.
What you put in your mind today will have long lasting effects on your relationships in the future.
Use Your Strength Wisely
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." 1Corinthians 6:19-20
You have grown immensely in the last couple of years. Your boyish roughhousing now has the potential to hurt. Really hurt.
Protect those who need protecting. Physically help those who need helping. Work hard, as if you are working for the Lord. Because you are. God gave men strength for a reason. Make sure you use that strength to glorify Him.
Be A Leader
"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
Step up and be the leader. Don't le your friends influence you. You influence them and lead them toward Christ.
Eventually you will be the leader of your home, leading your children to Christ. Use these teen years to practice your leadership skills. You will need them for the rest of your life.
Don't Neglect Your First Love
"Trust the Lord will all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
If there is anything you take away from this letter, let it be this: Do not neglect your relationship with God.
He created you and knows you like no other. He loves you with an everlasting love. He saved you from every sin you have ever committed and every sin you ever will and he did it at the expense of His own Son.
Never forget that!
As much as I love you (and you can not even fathom how much that is!), God loves you more. He is ready and willing to guide you through life if you will let him.
Spend time in prayer with him. Take your celebrations, your problems, and your worries to the Lord.
If you put God first in your life, everything else will fall into place. You'll be tempted to put your time and money on other things- sports, work, and yes, even girls. And those things aren't bad as long as you don't put them in the highest place- the place where God belongs.
Keep your priorities straight: Jesus, Others, then finally yourself.
I love you so much. God has gifted you in so many ways, and I cannot wait to see how you use those gifts. I love the man you are becoming, and I thank God for you every day.
Happy thirteenth birthday!
Much Love,
Mom
*adapted from Lynnea McCoy*
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