I wrote the following in February 1996. My son was three at the time. Today is his 24th birthday. He earned a degree in Industrial Engineering, then graduated from the Cross Church School of Ministry, and is now on staff at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary while pursuing a master’s degree. He is happily married to my favorite daughter-in-law and they have provided us a wonderful granddog, Ronald. (Yes, granddog, not grandchild.) He has done and is doing well. I love him and am proud of him. And my prayer for him as not changed.

“Daddy, what do you want to be when you get big?”

I responded, “I am big. And I am what I want to be.”

He wants to be a fireman, for now. Tomorrow it may be something else. Every day is a new day for a three-year old. Being big is a far off prospect for him. There are some thirty year olds for whom it is a far off prospect.

How many “big” people are happy with what they have become? How happy are you? Are you what you want to be?

We have tragically bought into the big lie that if we could just get the right job with the right pay check then we would be happy. We have believed that our lives stink because we just cannot get that promotion or new position we need.

What is happiness in life really about? Read these next words carefully.

“How blessed is the man who finds wisdom. And the man who gains understanding. For its profit is better than the profit of silver, and its gain than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways; and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who hold fast to her.” (Proverbs 3:13-18 NAS)

Did you see it? Who is blessed? The man who finds wisdom and gains understanding. Not the man who finds the new job or gets the big promotion. Who is happy? The man who holds fast to wisdom.

I hope that my son will be able to pursue the dreams of his heart. I hope that he will be good at whatever he does and be duly recognized and recompensed for it. But whether he puts out fires or sweeps streets, I pray he finds wisdom. And in so doing finds happiness. May you do the same.