Happy Birthday Zayne!

Today is my first-born son’s birthday, Manuel Zayne Rivera.   If there’s anything I’m learning this year is to live my life in moments and not in minutes.  Before I’m a leader to pastors, a church planter and pastor to multitudes, I’m a father to my children and a husband to my wife.  And leveraging special moments must be my modus operandi. The demands of ministry carry the capacity to consume all my minutes thus distracting me to forfeit special moments.  And if truth me known, it’s only the special moments of life that we end up remembering and cherishing.

Zayne, I write this about you and for you.  I want to share it with the world because the love of this father is one that carries an extreme amount of pride and joy. And it’s because of this love for you that I want to stand on top of a mountain and shout how proud I am of you!

With that said, I want to honor my now, 16-year-old young man, Zayne Rivera.  Here are some of my thoughts about him:

• It was told to us that you had an inability to learn and needed special help, but you have proved them all wrong!
• You carry the responsibility of a seasoned adult.  Your work ethic challenges me.
• It brings joy to me that you and I are the first ones to wake up in the morning.  While it’s still dark you are already engaged in your studies.  I love that!
• You began swimming competitively only 15 months ago and have caught up with your peers that have been swimming for 10 years.  GO ZAYNE GO!
• I love your conviction of hard work and practice.  It will take you far in life!
• Your ability to remember and dictate stories, shows and movies still confounds me.
• I never met such a creative mind.  I love to hear the movies you’ve created in your mind while I drive you to your swim practice.  One day they will be played on a silver screen.
• One day I know you will write, produce and direct your own blockbuster hit.  I can’t wait to hold your Oscar Award!
• And above all, I’m very proud of the heart you have for people and most importantly, the Lord. You operate with more character and integrity than many adults I know. Keep that always!

I’m very proud of you Zayne!  I love you very much!

Dad