My Firstborn is now 24. Wow!

Happy Birthday to the finest 24-year-old I have ever known!

Proverbs 4:23 (AMPC)

23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

From my little sailor boy at 6 months (Yes, I know, it should have been a lil' lawyer's suit. Who knew?):

To the law student in Sept. 2017:

Your 24th year was marked by some special events, like that internship to Spain!

Preceded by that epic coffee house fund raiser where you and your bro sang!

And Sarah's graduation:

Nate, I don't know of anyone in our family who is not proud of you and your work ethic and character, in fact, for the person you have become. I'm still stunned you are my son, and that is because you are who you are in spite of my flaws as a Mom. 

You are who you are because of His grace.

Don't ever forget that.

Be grateful always for His grace, His obvious Hand in your life.

One word keeps coming to mind as this new door to becoming a lawyer has opened.

Wisdom.

Son, when God asked Solomon what he wanted, he did not say 'riches', but wisdom, and God was so pleased that He gave him the fame of being the wisest the world had known and more riches than he could have asked for.

Re-read Proverbs, and soak yourself in wise words.

Spend time with your greatest mentor, your own Advocate (Lawyer), our Lord, and learn from Him.

Apply His Word to your everyday life, let Him transform you into His image day by day.

However, that comes with a cost.

The cost of discipleship. The pain of cleansing and the breaking of pride.

Yes, wisdom comes from a humble heart that is receptive to teaching.

You will work in a culture hostile to Him, and therefore to you as you seek to follow Him.

You will need His wisdom on how to live and respond with His heart and voice.

Memorize these words and apply them in the upcoming years:

15 

Psalm 15:1-2 (AMP)

1. O Lord, who may lodge [as a guest] in Your tent?

Who may dwell [continually] on Your holy hill?

2. He who walks with integrity and strength of character, and works righteousness,

And speaks and holds truth in his heart.

Hosea 10:12 (AMP)

Sow with a view to righteousness [that righteousness, like seed, may germinate];

Reap in accordance with mercy and lovingkindness.

Break up your uncultivated ground,

For it is time to seek and search diligently for the Lord [and to long for His blessing]

Until He comes to rain righteousness and His gift of salvation on you.

3 

Micah 6:8 (AMP) 

He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
Except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion),
And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?

St. Thomas More is considered the patron saint for Catholic lawyers and one of his prayers align with mine for you:

"...Pray that, for the glory of God and in the pursuit of His justice, I may be trustworthy with confidences, keen in study, accurate in analysis, correct in conclusion, able in argument, loyal to clients, honest with all, courteous to adversaries, ever attentive to conscience. Sit with me at my desk and listen with me to my clients’ tales. Read with me in my library and stand always beside me so that today I shall not, to win a point, lose my soul.

Pray that my family may find in me what yours found in you: friendship and courage, cheerfulness and charity, diligence in duties, counsel in adversity, patience in pain—their good servant, and God’s first. Amen..." (3 Prayers by St. Thomas More for Catholic lawyers)

So Nate, I look forward with you to what this coming year brings with its many challenges and new opportunities. Remember He walks with you and never leaves you. Let your default become turning to Him first instead of trying to manage your life. Soon you will find that your life was never your own to manage contrary to popular thinking. It was always His.

In Him you will find your purpose and joy!

I love you!

Now let's see if I can find a song for you. Hmmm.

God I Look to You by Brian Johnson, sung by Jenn Johnson, from the album "Be lifted High"
God I look to You
I won't be overwhelmed
Give me vision to see things like You do
God I look to You
You're where my help comes from
Give me wisdom, You know just what to do
I will love You Lord my strength
I will love you Lord my shield
I will love You Lord my rock
Forever all my days, I will love you God
Hallelujah our God reigns
Hallelujah our God reigns
Hallelujah our God reigns
Forever all my days Hallelujah

Prayer:
Father, I come to You with heart so full of gratitude for Your obvious Hand on Nathan's life. Indeed, You have taken him through a roller coaster and he has responded with a heart to serve You where You have gifted him. Will You please go before him and work out all the details that are needed to thrive for You in Ottawa. May all weapons formed against him to sabotage Your purpose for him come to naught. Equip him for all that lies ahead. Grant him wisdom and humility of heart. May he be known as a man of integrity who is just and loves You and walks humbly with You. Guard his relationships and may he seek to impress noone but You. Thank You for Sarah and her family and his close friends who desire his 'good' and thank you for Daniel who loves his brother with all his heart. Thank You for Mike who lays down his life for us. And Lord, thank You for gifting me for a little while with this very special child, now a man in his own right, Your man.
Now I commit his 25th year into Your Hands, To You, O God, be the glory forever and ever, Amen.

Always, with Love, Thoughts and Prayers,
Your Mom.