Last night, I was the inspirational speaker for an awards banquet for the Independent Insurance Agents of Kentucky. Before my presentation, the association installed their new officers. As the new president took office, he acknowledged several people including Bob Fulwider, the president of the IIAA, his wife, and his father. I was moved by the obvious love and respect that the son had  for his father. His father had been his mentor, his teacher, his confidant, and his friend. The new president had his family including his two young boys in the audience. One of the boys was the age of my son. As I  listened, I thought about my son and how having him speak of me the way this man spoke of his father would be the greatest accomplishment of my life.

Years ago, I started writing letters to my son - letters that I will give to him some day when he’s a man. Perhaps this post will be included with my letters. Here’s one of those letters I wrote when I lived in tranquil Atlantic Beach, Florida.

Dear Russell:

I’m looking north up the beach and in this pre-dawn moment I see a regular flash coming from the Mayport lighthouse.  The rocks on the jetties are visible to any boat, and the water isn’t at all treacherous.  The lighthouse, however, continues to flash as regularly as a heartbeat and as sure as the sunrise.  It happens twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and three-hundred and sixty-five days a year.  Someday, you’ll ask me about lighthouses, and I’ll tell you something like this: “They are to help ships determine safe passage into the harbor.  They keep ships from going into water too shallow and keep them on course.”  This lighthouse I see now continues to advise the ships as it has for years, even though many who use it know the right way home.  My hope is that I can be that kind of lighthouse for you.  I want to be a consistent ray that you’ll look to for guidance, direction, and safekeeping. At times, when you smoothly sail through life, my ever-present light may seem unnecessary.  There will be other times, however, when the waters won’t be so calm.  It will be at those times that I hope my shining lamp will illuminate your life.  At that moment, when you’ll need me the most, I will be glad I had the light on even when I didn’t think you were watching. 

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com