Congratulations, Son

Today is the big day as you graduate with the class of 2009 and it is okay to be proud. Your dad and I are very proud of your accomplishments. From the moment you were born, you stole my heart and I have only wanted the very best for you. To see you excel and achieve your academic goals, brings me great pride but that pales in comparison to the warmth I feel when I see you attain higher heights and deeper depths in your spiritual life. You have become a fine young man but there is much more to do, see, and learn. Son, Proverbs 4:7 states it best. "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." KJV

Bryce, daddy and I dedicated you to God when you were just an infant. We did our best to guide your life down the paths of righteousness and instruct you in the ways of the Lord. As a young boy, you gave your heart to God, was filled with His spirit, and made the decision to be baptized in Jesus' name. That was only the beginning. Realizing the hand of God was upon your life, we have done our best to stand guard over your reputation and protect your character. Yet, along this road, it is important to get understanding. Some kids never get understanding and suffer the consequences. The day will come when you will look back over your life and understand the decisions dad and I made in regards to your life. Solomon's parents loved him and therefore taught him. Wise and godly men, in every age of the world, and rank in society, agree that true wisdom consists in obedience, and is united to happiness. Get wisdom, even if it pains you. Take command over any corruptions or impurities; take more pains to get this than the wealth of this world. A soul without true wisdom and grace is a dead soul. How poor, contemptible, and wretched are those, who, with all their wealth and power, die without getting understanding, without Christ, without hope, and without God!

I love you, Son, more than life itself. You are my pride and joy, my baby-boy-grown-man, and every sacrifice I have made in life for you was done willingly and with pride. There is nothing I would not do for you and I would give you everything I possibly can but the best gift I can give you is Jesus and His word. You only have one life - - - live it for Christ.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2000.
The Proverbs 4 The Beneficence of Wisdom
1
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2
For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3
For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4
He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words:
keep my commandments, and live.
5
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
8
Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.
9
She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
10
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
11
I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
12
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
14
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15
Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19
The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
20
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21
Let them not depart from thine eyes, keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22
For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24
Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.