The Stories We Tell

I read this today:

Children learn what's worth living for and what's worth dying for by the stories they watch us live. I want to teach our children how to get scary close, and more, how to be BRAVE. I want to teach them that LOVE IS WORTH WHAT IT COSTS.

We can take our children to church, and put them around other good people, and read encouraging stories to them at bedtime, but mostly, they will learn what is worth living for and what is worth dying for by the stories the see US actually living.

Hope and Harper,

I hope that the story that you see me living is one worth watching. I hope that, despite the character flaws and shortcomings in the main character, that it is a story that you can learn from. And not only that, I hope it is a story that will show you a life worth living. I hope that you see me chasing lions. I hope that you see me loving and serving your mom, with both strength and humility. I hope that you see me living a life less ordinary, less conforming, and less fearful, and full of joy, pursuit, and authenticity.

And even more importantly, I hope the story that you see me living is worth retelling. And like an old fable that gets passed on from generation to generation, I hope you will observe and be a part of my story, and then take it and make it your own. That you will go and chase your own lions and live a life not based on fear and judgment, but based on love and confidence in the one who has created you.

We are writing our story now, and trying to pursue some things that will allow mom to have less stress at work, and more time with you guys. We are pursuing some things that are a bit unconventional, and that you might not like right away. They are really tough decisions for us, largely because we know that in the short term, they will be tough on you.

However, we believe that we need to make decisions based on a bigger vision. That vision sees us debt free, spending our time and our money how we see fit and not based on what someone else tells us we must do. That vision sees me and your mom with more time to spend with each other, strengthening our relationship, and investing more in each other and in you. That vision sees us traveling and experiencing things together as a family.

We aren't there yet, but we are working on it. We are trying to live a story with watching, and worth retelling.

With all my love,
Dad