To the future Mrs. Nathan Rearden

Dear future Daughter-in-law,
I've been thinking about you a lot the past few days.  It probably sounds weird to most people that I am thinking about (and praying for) the girl my son will marry some day, but let me tell you why. 

I believe a big part of my job in raising Nathan is to teach him to be a Godly, strong, honorable man who portrays the characteristics and traits that a wife would want him to have one day.  This task is just beginning, and I hope that one day, when you meet, you will look at him and see a man that will provide and care for you, love you, treat you with respect, be your friend and partner. 

At this stage in the game, I am Nate's true love (haha)...and he gets fiercly jealous if someone else is around me, touch me or hugging me because he thinks that I am his...and no one elses:-)  Lately, I have watched him hit his sisters when they are near me.  Sometimes I am holding him, and they come over to give me a hug and he hits them upside the head.  Sometimes they are sitting on my lap listening to a story and he crawls over, for one reason....to hit them. 

So, lesson number one has begun for Nate, I will not allow him to hit another person...especially a girl.  That's where you came into my mind.  The other day, as I watched him crawl over to hit his sister, I thought of you.  I do not want to raise a son who thinks it is ok to hit a woman...or his wife....EVER!  Obviously he is a baby and simply hits because that's what baby's tend to do...but it does not make it ok.  He must learn self-control.  He must learn to treat others as he would want to be treated.  He must learn to be a gentleman.  He must learn to respect others, especially women.  And, that learning commenced this week. 

So, my dear future daughter-in-law, I hope that I am diligent in teaching him these things.  I hope that in 20 or 25 years, that you have a young man who loves the Lord, loves you, serves and protects you, respects you and treats you as a precious gift.  I will be thinking about you and praying for you over the years as I care for this sweet little baby boy and help to mold him  into the man who will one day will care for you.