To my nephew Tyus,
It’s a great honor to write these words of both encouragement and counsel as we invite you into the journey of manhood. Although the adventures of boyhood still fill the skies of your horizon, you have set foot today on a path that will lead quickly away from the realm of the child and on toward the calling God has been equipping you for and towards the particular influence you are meant to have in this world. I’m excited about what that will be and delighted in the young man you are becoming. I have always enjoyed watching the way you have interacted with our son and taken time to both entertain and enjoy him. Kendra and I are both proud of the kind heart God has given you and we thank him for this gift in you. Perhaps some of the gentleness and kindness of our grandpa George has been passed to you. The one thing that makes you quite different from him is how well you are able to have fun and let yourself go when the occasion arises. That is also something we appreciate about you…that you are not cold, distant and aloof like a lot of young people who are “too cool for school” and really just covering up their fear that they might be mocked or appear like a fool if they do anything peculiar that draws attention.
Your musical interest and gifting is also starting to show itself and I’m very curious to see if that becomes a growing passion in your future…no pressure though.
