A letter to my grandson
A while ago I wrote a letter to my grandson who had left school and was setting off on his chosen path. As I re-read it, I thought some of the advice is worth sharing:
Dear
You have entered a new phase in your life, and I don’t know how often we’ll see you now that you’ll be in a different land for a while.
You know that I love you and enjoy your company enormously and as you enter this new adventure, I feel I want to pass on some wisdom that I have gained through the years. I know that often we learn things the hard way, by bitter experience, but I’m praying that you will be mature enough to take what I say to heart, for being taught through your mistakes is, indeed the bitter, hard way.
So here goes:
- You are master of your destiny. You have the freedom – and the power – to make the right or wrong choices. The choices that you make now can affect the whole course of your life, therefore you need to take very seriously how you will live your life. Will you live responsibly or carelessly? Will you live with consideration for others, or selfishly? Will you live honourably or dishonourably? These are all choices that need to be made before you have to apply them in practice.
- Nobody breaks God’s laws. You can defy them, just as you can defy the law of gravity, but you won’t win. In the end, if you try to break them, God’s laws will break you. They might crush you or wound you; at best they will leave you with a sense of failure and futility even in the midst of success. Therefore, it is the utmost wisdom to obey them.
- In the workplace you will be answerable to a number of people, but in terms of your moral life, and righteousness, you are answerable to no-one but your conscience and to God. But be sure you are answerable to God. He rewards moral courage and — through His laws — punishes moral cowardice. If you bend to the norms of society which you know deep in your heart are wrong, that is cowardice and you will eventually suffer the consequences.
- There is no such thing as not choosing. Throughout life you will be making choices, whether you want to or not. When confronted with a choice whether to do something or not, and you defer the decision, you have chosen not to do it. As an example, if you borrow something and do not return it, you have made the choice to keep it.
- The ultimate key to success is perseverance through the tough times. There is always opposition to any good endeavour. The secret is to keep your eye on the goal and not on the surrounding terrain. The Bible uses Jesus as an example: “Who, for the joy set before Him (eye on the goal) endured the Cross, scorning its shame.” And, of course, to lean on Jesus in those tough times.
- No man is an island. If you find yourself trapped in sin, don’t think you can dig your way out by yourself. Seek Godly counsel, but make sure it is Godly.
Finally, I will always be here for you. If ever you need someone to talk to, you have your parents, but you also have me.
Your loving granddad.
