DAN'S GRADUATION 1988

	Raising a child is like building a house.  You are never satisfied with how it is turning out, because you are trying to make it perfect.
	But you cannot make it perfect, because you who are building it are not perfect and make mistakes.  And the materials you are using to build it are not perfect.
	But when the job is completed and you stand back and look at the finished project, you find that it did not turn out so bad after all and should be able to weather any storm.
	This building can either fall into disrepair or it can be improved upon, depending on who owns it.
	After graduation your children become owners of their own building to let fall into disrepair or to improve upon.
	In the same way I'm sure Daniel felt we were never satisfied with his performance or progress, because we as parents wanted to build him into the perfect adult.
	But we his parents are not perfect and made mistakes while raising our children because of our sinful nature and Daniel, the material we were attempting to build into a perfect adult is not perfect because of his sinful nature, so it is unrealistic of us to expect him to be perfect.
	As I stand back and look at the finished product, I can truly say, He did not turn out so bad after all.
	He is ready to weather the storms of his life as he steps out into the world and I
      pray that he will not fall into disrepair by following the ways of the world, but that he will improve upon what is built.
	To do this he must realize that everything he has, including his new job, comes from God and he must continue seeking God's will, studying His Word and meeting with fellow Christians in church.
	Dan, your building is now yours, build on it wisely!

                              Your Loving Father
                                                            Brutus