Dear Hannah,

Sometimes things happen that upset us. We have to feel what we feel, take the time to heal, remember what is real, and keep moving forward ...

As I lay me down to sleep

I kiss my wife and ponder deep

I wonder why, and that's OK

Answers tomorrow are questions today

Then I kneel and start to pray

Ask the Lord to have His way

Stay focused on a future day

Hope to keep all harm at bay

So my baby girl can play

Jump on me, yell "Daddy, yay!"

Master piano, dance ballet

Tell her about our wedding day

How to wait for her fiance'

Relationships begin with "hey"

Then take their course - la vie c'est

Do her work for more than pay

Know when to go, and when to stay

Correct her course if she should stray

See that this world is still cray cray

The brave are scared to disobey

But sometimes do it anyway

The fools rush in, the wise survey

Think twice, act once - avoid the fray

Accountable talk never starts with "they"

Power is more than being able to sway

Then I reach "amen" and rise again

Ready to embark, engage and win

Eyes wide shut, but with open heart

The game ain't fair, so play it smart

The road ahead is still paved with LIFE

Despite all circumstance and strife

She can change the world if I maintain

Stay on my grind, and in my lane

Love,

Daddy

(Author of "A Long Walk … Towards Care, Concern, Respect, and Advocacy")

Dear Hannah,

My life is but an instrument

Singing songs in many keys

Wisdom earned through lessons learned

From mistakes of several degrees

Do not mistake activity for achievement

Arriving on time means you're late

To be on time arrive early

Fall seven times - get up eight

One time is an accident

Two times is a trend

Three times might be a problem

But forgiveness is your friend

The race is not to the swift

But to the ones who maintain

So stay aligned on your grind

And stay in your own lane

Keep it slow and steady

That's it - nice and smoove

Always do your homework

Believe that God will approve

Every moment matters

You had better realize

Then you can quickly respond

To opportunities that you recognize

Don't despise the small tasks

Pursue them diligently

For passion and purpose are discovered

Through acts of ministry

Keep a pad and paper

And a nearby pen of ink

Write your visions plainly

Make time to pray and think

Don't believe the hype

Avoid the glittery and bejeweled

When we think with our eyes

We are often easily fooled

All money ain't good money

Sometimes less is more

Make a living through your giving

Learn to turn two into four

Your fear is your only courage

Be scared to disobey

Be scared to rock that boat

But sometimes rock it anyway

Know how to keep your quiet

Until it's time to say

If your heart ain't feelin' right

Then say it another day

Freedom of speech

Means come correct

Be quick to listen

Be quicker to respect

Be slow to speak

Even slower to get twisted

Meek ain't weak

Self-control beats double-fisted

The only thing to know

Is that you don't know squat

Nobody cares what you know

If they think you care not

So pick your spot

Practice - don't preach

When the student is ready

The teacher will teach

If faced with a fool

Proverbs 26 - verses 5 and 4

Sometimes you can let it go

Sometimes you gotta let em know

Train your child with loving instruction

Encourage growth, but discourage rambunction

Know you are equal in essence

But very different in function

No good deed goes unrewarded

But the payoff is seldom immediate

Dreams manifest at God's appointed time

Though it tarries, wait for it

Love,

Daddy

(Author of "A Long Walk … Towards Care, Concern, Respect, and Advocacy")

Dear Hannah,

You can make a whole new song - that speaks to our present-day plight - out of song & movie titles from albums & CDs that you have "sitting in the crates".

Let's give it a try ...

Love,

Daddy

(Author of "A Long Walk … Towards Care, Concern, Respect, and Advocacy")