Little Books – Dowey Digest.8.21.17 – Here’s the deal: Your children are going back to school as these lazy dog days of summer segue into a breezy colorful fall. Or, they are pretty much grown, in college, out of school, or starting their first real full-time job, maybe getting married, having children, etc. You find yourself moving from leadership role of parenting to regular cheerleader mode. However, you still have a desire to affect their lives in a positive manner. Was taking them to church or sharing with them the things of God enough? Is it over? How do you keep influencing their lives for the good? How do you keep impacting their lives for God in a relationship with Christ? If you missed out on their growing up years, how do you contribute something of significance to their impromptu focus on adulthood? Bad news: Your old lecture style doesn’t cut it for the young adult these days…they can not only shut their ears and go to their room, but they can now go to their own home…if they are not living with you. My current assessment – Contemplating the question: Am I a good dad? I know Missie is a great mom…but let me…maybe…help you by sharing how I am answering that intriguing question in my way of continuing to help shape my son, Jack, for the Gospel and for life itself. By virtue of the impact of two of my 7th grade teachers, I journal. Although, I don’t do it daily, I invest in nice, leather bound books, to write in, and I have many. Several years ago, Jack was moving into college life, and my influence was diminishing. Then, as I thought about it, I came up with the fact that one day I would be leaving this planet, and what would I leave my son? Floating around in my head are my dad’s words and my grandfather’s stories of wisdom. What knowledge or guidance would I leave my son? Here’s how I solved my dilemma and I keep on parenting without annoying Jack. After all, I want him to grow as a man and make his own decisions. After all, making a choice is a must if he is going to grow up. I committed to writing ten journals to Jack in my lifetime. I may make it to ten, I may not…it’s my goal. I shop around for the perfect diary looking book, not wincing at the price tag, the more expensive and exotic the hide and cover, the better because it shows I am committed to completing my project (I put my money to where my words are)…they will contain the words to my son that I want him to have…even after I am gone. They may be worthless to others, but I am believing, thinking, and banking on that they will be gold to him. I have planned to present them to him about every two years. I have given him the first one and will complete the second one at the end of 2017. In it, I write about life, my life, his life, our family, experiences, trips, and our lives together. I scribble down thoughts, encouragement, and write out prayers, and Psalms, and other verses of God’s Word that are important to me. I explain some of my decisions and some of my faults. Some of it is pretty, some of the little book is raw, some of it silly. And my promise to Jack is one of privacy: These are words between a father and a son, “No one will look at these words except you Jack.” It is so serious to me, and such a unique thing for us that I will not photograph the inside words nor can I share them with you. And here’s one last word, my point of gratification: Recently, Jack was traveling to Europe, and he had his backpack on and Missie was commenting on it and later she told me, “In it are several private things, his Bible, a note or two, something from me, and the first leather journal you gave him.” Okay…at least here’s a picture of the outside…Jack bought this one for me to write to him!