Written by Mark Driskill:
(For my son Jack)

Well son I’ve been thinking about what to say for several weeks now. I do n’t think we have time for all the things I’d like to talk to you about.  It’s kinda difficult to know exactly where to begin.  Needless to say I am extremely proud of the man you are becoming.  When you were born I prayed that God would take hold of you and shape you into the man he wanted you to be.  One day the Lord led me to a promise in scripture that I have taken hold of for you and your siblings.

Psalm 112:1-2 says, “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.”

Today I give thanks to God for keeping his promise.  As with your sister before you and no doubt to come with your brother and sister behind you, I have been blessed to see the fulfillment of God’s word.  I want to talk a little about how God has kept this promise in your life and also I hope you will allow him to keep that same promise for you and your children.  My job has been to fear the Lord and delight in his commands.  Your mother and I have and will continue to try our best to live out the fear of God and the love of his ways. He has been more than gracious to your mother and me.  Our hope is that each of you will always set your hearts on God and his ways.  In at least two ways I see how God has kept his promise.  He has made you mighty in the land and he has made me a wealthy man.

When you were a young child, going to science camp in Hartsville, I remember you were being picked on by another camper.  After a few days of hearing how patiently you dealt with his bullying, I began to consider giving you permission to push back.  But before I could do that you came home with a big grin on your face and told how you turned him into a friend instead.  Mighty men know how to turn their enemies into friends. I realized then what a mighty man God was making you.

One night a few years ago you woke me up in the middle of the night and said you needed to talk.  You told me of something wrong you had done that I had no idea about.  You asked my forgiveness and we prayed together for God to enable you to overcome it.  Mighty men know how to admit when they have sinned and to seek grace and forgiveness from God.  At the same time there have been times when I have had to apologize to you and you respectfully but boldly told me.  Mighty men can do that too.  Time would fail me to tell of all the times you have stood up for what was right even when you had to stand alone.  I have seen you continue to stand when people you thought were your friends did not stand with you, and yet you never backed down from the truth. It takes a mighty man to do that.

On a lighter note, I remember when you were very small, maybe 3 or 4 years old.  Your cousin Will, who was much larger than you, had tackled your sister Katie.  You thought he was hurting her, and literally dragged him off of her, saying “get off my sista!”  I told you when you were very young that part of your job as a man is to protect your little siblings and anyone who is being hurt. You truly are a defender of the weak.  It takes a mighty man to do that.

You are a mighty man Jackson.  Just never forget where your might comes from.  It comes, not from you, or me, as much as I’d like to take credit. Real might comes from the Lord. Never forget that. Without him you can do nothing. The Bible says “Unless the Lord builds the house the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches he city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” – Only in God will you have the strength to continue standing when others fall.

You have not only proven your might in the Lord, but you have also made me a wealthy man.  You know one of the most difficult things about being a father has been not always being able to provide the nice things you want to give your children. Your mother and I have chosen a simpler lifestyle out of conviction and that has often been difficult.  But when I look at you and your siblings and your beautiful mother I am in awe of the wealth and riches that dwell in my house.

There have been so many times in life that you have reminded me just how wealthy I am. Once at scout camp we were giving out badges for the rank of Second Class.  You had done every requirement except one.  I told you you could go ahead and put on the badge and we would finish the last step later.  When you realized there was one more thing to do, you refused to wear the badge. “No Dad, not until I finish everything.” – I realized what a rich man I am.

Every time I have to be away from home and your mother tells me how you take care of everything as best you can in my stead I realize I’m rich.  When I see a young man strong enough to take charge of the soccer field as a referee, and kind enough to stop what he is doing to help a four year old child climb a tree I realize what a rich man I am.  Whenever I ask you to do something you don’t want to do and you do it anyway, I realize how rich I am.  When I see your ridiculously funny acting on stage and then see you leading a young camper to Jesus, I realize how rich I am.

A couple of years ago at Bethel Camp the evening service had just let out and you had been out ministering to students.  You came up to me as I exited the chapel and said, “dad let’s go pray with people.” – Then we ended up talking to a whole group of Guys about listening to God.  That moment made me feel more like your partner than your father.  When a man can work together with his son, in the ministry, that man is a wealthy man.

When I realize I have sons and daughters who love each other, genuinely love God and even like hanging out with mom and dad, I realize just how wealthy I am.  When we are all at the dinner table laughing until our insides hurt because of one of your crazy voices, I realize how wealthy I am.  When I see you sacrifice something you want so someone else can have something they need, I realize I’m a very wealthy man.  When a certain young lady, who shall remain nameless, tells me she likes you because you are chivalrous and respectful, I realize how wealthy I am (Don’t you dare tell on me).

Jack I could go on about all the ways you have demonstrated that you are in fact a man now.  It would take all night to do so.  As you step into the world of manhood and as Paul wrote, “put away childish things”  I just want to let you know that you are a mighty man of God and you have made me a wealthy man.  Now go out in the might and power of the Lord Jesus, and do all you can to become a wealthy man.  The secret to wealth is very simple and as old as time itself. “Fear God and delight in his ways” Your children will be mighty in the land and wealth will dwell in your house.  Next year I will miss having you around the house, but I feel confident that your younger brother, who is becoming mighty in his own right, will step up to the plate and carry on as well.

Your mother and I love you son and we are extremely proud of you. Now I will close with the blessing the Lord taught me to give you each night: “The Lord bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you. The Lord be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace in Jesus name. Amen.”

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the Word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw
and www.facebook.com (to group “Begotten by the Word”)
Begotten by the word is a ministry of Helping Hands Christian resources-Evangelism Outreach www.hhcr05.org
(Feel free to copy in any way that will bring glory to God and further his kingdom.)

Contact information:
Email: driskill@hilbillymail.com
Facebook: Mark Driskill
Address: PO Box 1159 Jackson KY.