Dear Jack, Month 37

Dear Jack,

You like shirts with numbers on them. I think I've mentioned this before.

You like them so much that if you're wearing a shirt without a number, you bring us a roll of scotch tape and ask us to put a number on your shirt for you (generally, a "7" or "11").


Because to you, a shirt with a number is more than a shirt . . . it's a jersey. You love sports and you love to make up stories about games that you win and lose. You include details about who played with you, how long it took, and what position you played. You have quite the imagination. Your active imagination is something that I adore about you.


You have so much potential, Jack. Growing up, I remember people telling me that I could "be anything that I wanted to be." And I guess that's okay to tell kids. But I'd rather have you focus less on who you want to be and more on becoming more of who God has already made you to be.


Sometimes, we get this picture in our minds of who we want to be. We compare ourselves to other people and try and pursue obtaining their gifts, rather than realizing that gifts are gifts and we've already been gifted with exactly what we need. Always remember that comparison is the enemy of contentment.


So work on developing and pursuing your God given gifts. Use your creativity and intelligence and talent in a way that makes you more of who you are supposed to be rather than trying to be someone else.

I'm so tired, and I'm not 100% sure that I'm making much sense. I guess what I really want you to know is that your Dad and I love you just the way God made you and we can't wait to see the kind of man you'll become.

Love,
Mommy