Editor’s note: The following column is adapted from a personal letter William J.Bennett wrote to his sons in 1990Dear Boys,This Letter is being written on a train in the early evening during a very busy week for your Dad, The President’s "Drug Czar." I may not get it all said the way I want to but I thought it better to write some of it down because you can never tell.
I hope when you read this we’ll be able to talk about it.I trust we will.My message is pretty simple.
Remember, Revere, Trust and Hold to the best thing, the most important things.And I believe they are your family, your country, and your God – Our family, our country, our God.
There are other important and great things – friends, learning, physical well-being.And activity – but the three things I’ve mentioned will over time give more to you of value than anything else.
Of course you can do justice by them and have more time for the other things and these 3 will help you make friends, be a friend – learn and have a purpose for learning, even encourage and help you to do your best in sports and competition.But these 3 above all.
Why?Your family is your base.It’s your anchor and your moorings.
You are always welcome there.There is nothing you cannot discuss with me or your mother (and in time probably with each other too).NEW STUDY REVEALS THE SINGLE MOST CRITICAL FACTOR IN WHETHER CHILDREN KEEP THEIR FAITH INTO ADULTHOODAs brothers you will have each other for the rest of your lives; hold to each other, trust each other, stay close and help each other.
When you have children – your own families – then you will have the sense of how much your mother and I love you.We love you without qualification, without condition, without limit.
We also can be angry at you, disappointed in you, and yes can and will disapprove, no doubt, of some of what you do – but the love doesn’t stop ever.Remember that.
You’ll know this joy and feeling some day.Thank you for what you have give...