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Dear Hannah, Families hold together. Peace and love forever.  We are one. Heart to heart, we're family ... one to one. Heart to heart, we're family ... all for one. Love, Daddy (Author of "A Long Walk … Towards Care, Concern, Respect, and Advocacy")

Dear Hannah, My songs help me talk to "me" about "me". They teach, train, correct, rebuke, encourage, inspire, restore, and motivate me. I don't like being exploited, marginalized, disrespected, and overlooked. I get that a lot ... too much. I don't like to be used. I get that a lot ... too much. I don't like to waste time on empty, one-sided relationships. I get that a lot ... too much. I don't like being asked to be part of the solution - without being able to help define the problem. I get that a lot ... too much. It does make me appreciate others who might be treated worse. I hope it makes me pay more attention to the way I treat people. I pray that it inspires mercy, grace, patience, and empathy more than enmity. The convenient choices about listening to our voices do not fool me. We are fooled much too easily ... usually because we think we know ... sometimes because we only care about what we care about. All I know is that we don't know. You see what you think you saw. You want what you think you want. They did what they think they did. They meant what you think they meant. But a mind is a terrible thing to have. You may have your eyes on the wrong prize. Mine eyes have seen the promised land. I have seen the finish line. I pray that I stay focused, and stay in the race. I know I'll be alright. I ain't goin' nowhere. Love, Daddy (Author of "A Long Walk … Towards Care, Concern, Respect, and Advocacy")

Dear Hannah, "Watch Me" is a phrase with several important meanings. It can describe surveillance & suppression ("who's that peekin' through my window"). It can describe determination ("I *will* make it"). It can describe discipleship ("may I show you me transparently"). It can describe accountability ("please don't let me fall"). Make sure you "watch me" the right way. Love, Daddy (Author of "A Long Walk … Towards Care, Concern, Respect, and Advocacy")

Dear Hannah, Make your dreams come true through direct, strategic action. Move your character towards faith and love through humility and confidence. Move with coordination and balance. Move those you influence through thought leadership. Love, Daddy (Author of "A Long Walk … Towards Care, Concern, Respect, and Advocacy")

Dear Hannah, every now and then i look back i'm checking for my shadow and the direction of my reflection so i can see where i'm headed and get out of my own way feel me? these are my reflections (and corrections) Love, Daddy (Author of "A Long Walk … Towards Care, Concern, Respect, and Advocacy")

Dear Hannah, Sometimes things happen that upset us. We have to feel what we feel, take the time to heal, remember what is real, and keep moving forward ... As I lay me down to sleep I kiss my wife and ponder deep I wonder why, and that's OK Answers tomorrow are questions today Then I kneel and start to pray Ask the Lord to have His way Stay focused on a future day Hope to keep all harm at bay So my baby girl can play Jump on me, yell "Daddy, yay!" Master piano, dance ballet Tell her about our wedding day How to wait for her fiance' Relationships begin with "hey" Then take their course - la vie c'est Do her work for more than pay Know when to go, and when to stay Correct her course if she should stray See that this world is still cray cray The brave are scared to disobey But sometimes do it anyway The fools rush in, the wise survey Think twice, act once - avoid the fray Accountable talk never starts with "they" Power is more than being able to sway Then I reach "amen" and rise again Ready to embark, engage and win Eyes wide shut, but with open heart The game ain't fair, so play it smart The road ahead is still paved with LIFE Despite all circumstance and strife She can change the world if I maintain Stay on my grind, and in my lane Love, Daddy (Author of "A Long Walk … Towards Care, Concern, Respect, and Advocacy")

Dear Hannah, My life is but an instrument Singing songs in many keys Wisdom earned through lessons learned From mistakes of several degrees Do not mistake activity for achievement Arriving on time means you're late To be on time arrive early Fall seven times - get up eight One time is an accident Two times is a trend Three times might be a problem But forgiveness is your friend The race is not to the swift But to the ones who maintain So stay aligned on your grind And stay in your own lane Keep it slow and steady That's it - nice and smoove Always do your homework Believe that God will approve Every moment matters You had better realize Then you can quickly respond To opportunities that you recognize Don't despise the small tasks Pursue them diligently For passion and purpose are discovered Through acts of ministry Keep a pad and paper And a nearby pen of ink Write your visions plainly Make time to pray and think Don't believe the hype Avoid the glittery and bejeweled When we think with our eyes We are often easily fooled All money ain't good money Sometimes less is more Make a living through your giving Learn to turn two into four Your fear is your only courage Be scared to disobey Be scared to rock that boat But sometimes rock it anyway Know how to keep your quiet Until it's time to say If your heart ain't feelin' right Then say it another day Freedom of speech Means come correct Be quick to listen Be quicker to respect Be slow to speak Even slower to get twisted Meek ain't weak Self-control beats double-fisted The only thing to know Is that you don't know squat Nobody cares what you know If they think you care not So pick your spot Practice - don't preach When the student is ready The teacher will teach If faced with a fool Proverbs 26 - verses 5 and 4 Sometimes you can let it go Sometimes you gotta let em know Train your child with loving instruction Encourage growth, but discourage rambunction Know you are equal in essence But very different in function No good deed goes unrewarded But the payoff is seldom immediate Dreams manifest at God's appointed time Though it tarries, wait for it Love, Daddy (Author of "A Long Walk … Towards Care, Concern, Respect, and Advocacy")

Dear Hannah, You can make a whole new song - that speaks to our present-day plight - out of song & movie titles from albums & CDs that you have "sitting in the crates". Let's give it a try ... Love, Daddy (Author of "A Long Walk … Towards Care, Concern, Respect, and Advocacy")

Dear Hannah, my joy comes from  understanding why i was born and what i need to do before i die and that even when things are shaky and folk are real "fakey" i know who my  folk are listen ... Love, Daddy (Author of "A Long Walk … Towards Care, Concern, Respect, and Advocacy")

Dear Hannah, I love your mother (Keisha). For our 10th anniversary, I told the world. Love, Daddy (Author of "A Long Walk … Towards Care, Concern, Respect, and Advocacy")

Dear Hannah, we can both reach the finish line by helping each other  train and pace to run our own race but to run it right we need to both pack light to push some major freight and pull our own weight so hang in there when it  doesn't go your way hang in there when you have  to say "bye bye" sometimes to people, places, habits,  and ideas that hinder more than they help sometimes you have to  see it through ... and sometimes you have  to see through it ... Love, Daddy (Author of "A Long Walk … Towards Care, Concern, Respect, and Advocacy")

Dear Hannah, I was assigned a role in this life before I was born ... ... but was then cast (thrown forcefully) into a cast (the actors in a play) according to caste ("social status or position conferred by a system based on class") ... ... hear me now ... ... my "truth" is "living in a daily lie" ... ... but the show must go on ... Love, Daddy (Author of "A Long Walk … Towards Care, Concern, Respect, and Advocacy")

Dear Hannah, Stick to the Master Plan (#MasterPlan) - even when current events make it feel like the world is out of control. Love, Daddy (Author of "A Long Walk … Towards Care, Concern, Respect, and Advocacy")

Dear Hannah, The road to reconciliation starts with ... realization (of both the might and the plight), respect (both spiritual essence and natural function), reassurance (of commitment to the corrective plan and path - don't ask for trust ... EARN IT), and REAL relationship (dealing with each other as EQUALS). We've got a long way to go ... ... because we keep trying to start at the finish line ... ... and often label voices of reason as voices of treason ... ... but 'tis the season ... ... to answer folly ... ... defeat conceit ... ... then rinse and repeat. We are not done yet. Love, Daddy (Author of "A Long Walk … Towards Care, Concern, Respect, and Advocacy")

Dear Hannah, Mistakes are great teachers because they grab your undivided attention. Trees are great teachers, too. You see all their majesty and might ... and their mistakes. You see that ... even in their might (right?) ... they can still fall ... timber(!). Love, Daddy (Author of "A Long Walk … Towards Care, Concern, Respect, and Advocacy")