Titus Roman Templeton

Dear Titus,
We are greatly anticipating your arrival. I haven't even met you yet and I love you deeply. You are my son. I can't believe you are arriving in 5 days. There has been so much preparation for months. Your Mom, sister Olive and I have been talking about you so much. Olive is ready to be a good big sister to you. Mommy and I are ready to see your face.

There is so much I want to teach you. So much I want to share with you that I'm busting. I need to be patient. I don't want to push you into my interests, but of course I will encourage it a bit. I promise not to push you too hard. Whether you play football, basketball or baseball is up to you. You can be into music, art or whatever. I will support you.

The most important thing I want share with you is Jesus Christ. I've been praying since I knew your Mom was pregnant with you that you would know Christ at a young age, follow him all the days of your life, and that he would use you in a mighty way. No matter what occupation you choose to be Christ can use you. The sky is the limit. I believe in you and you can be anything you want to be. It takes hard work and effort, but I will teach you that as well. It won't always be easy, but it's worth it.

I will always be there for you. Even when you mess up, I will love you. Sure, I will get angry at you and you will at me, but what I want to establish is love and respect through discipline. Discipline isn't a bad thing. The Bible is clear that God disciplines his children because he loves them. He wants to ensure they make the right choices that lead them to his will. That's all I want, I want to help you make the right choices. I don't want you to obey me because of fear, but because you love me. So just know even though I will disipline it is because I love you deeply and want the best for you.

Oh Titus, I just am so ready to hold you. I want to pour myself into you and hope that you only get the good things. I pray that you grow to be a better man than me. I can show you so much, but I hope you go further than me. Be a better man than me. I have a lot of flaws, and you will get to know those soon. I will fail you, I will mess up, but I will do my best to correct those failures and mess ups. We are in this together. We are family. I am honored to call you my son.

I love you and I will always be there for you.

Love,
Dad