We don't control what challenges life hands us we only control how we react to those challenges.

Isaiah 41:10

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand."

Come on son let's go for a walk we have to talk.

Son, daddy made some bad choices and now I have to go away for a few years.

where will you go?

I have to go to jail it's what happens when you break the law.

Will you come home?

As long as god allows me to, yes i will come home.

Daddy a lot of my friend's daddies are gone too.

My friend Luke's dad died from cancer. Franklin's dad was killed in the war. And Jennifers dad moved away and started a new family.

Son every family goes through different challenges and we must all be responsible for how we react to those challenges. My time away will be hard for you but God will be with you and I every step of the way. He will get us through this.

Daddy my heart feels pain and i want to cry.

It's okay to cry son, we are all human and we need to release our pain through emotions. Cry in my arms if you must and when you are done crying i will wipe your tears and together we will pray to god for peace and healing.

Daddy will i go to jail too?

No son, not if I can help it. My wrong choices are not yours nor are they your mistakes and this life isn't a path you have to choose. You can still be someone great in this world no matter what mistakes I have made. My proudest moment in life is knowing you won't follow in my foot steps. Finish school and become the chef you told me you want to be. You can become anything you want to be in this world. You can go anywhere you want to go and see anything you want to see. I believe in you son.

Daddy can you promise me something?

What's that son.

Promise me you wont make the same bad choices and mistakes and i promise not to follow in your footsteps.

Son, I promise you i will do better and make better choices for you and myself.

I love you daddy.

I love you too son.

Son we must pray.

Dear god please help us grow and make the right choices. Order our steps so that we may follow your path and be more like Jesus. In Jesus name we pray god heals our family, amen.

Once upon a time I woke up in our big beautiful house.