Dear Luke,
Honesty means telling the truth—even when it’s hard or uncomfortable. Being honest means your words match what really happened, and your actions match what is right. When you’re honest, people know they can trust you. Honesty looks like admitting when you made a mistake, keeping your promises, and choosing the truth even when no one is watching.
✨ BIG IDEA: Honesty means always telling the truth, doing what’s right, and being someone others can trust. ✨
When I was a kid playing sports, I learned a lot about honesty. Sometimes the ball would go out of bounds, and no one knew who touched it last—but I did. I would tell the referee, “It was off me,” even if it meant the other team got the ball. Or if I fouled someone and the coaches didn’t see it, I’d admit it anyway. It wasn’t always easy, but it made me feel proud inside because I knew I was doing the right thing. As an adult, honesty has helped me even more—especially in my marriage, in the Marine Corps, and when I was a teacher. Being truthful helped me build strong relationships and earn the trust of the people I served with.
The Bible gives us many examples of honesty. One of my favorites is when Jesus met Nathanael. Jesus said he was a man “in whom there is no deceit”—meaning he was truthful. Another example is Daniel, who lived with such honesty and integrity that even his enemies couldn’t find anything “wrong or corrupt” in him. God honors honesty, and He uses honest people to shine His light in the world.
Luke, here are a few things you can start practicing as you grow:
Tell the truth right away, even when it feels scary.
Admit when you did something wrong and take responsibility.
Keep your promises, even small ones.
If you don’t know something, say, “I don’t know,” instead of guessing.
These small steps will help you become a young man others can trust.
My prayer for you, Luke, is that God will shape your heart to love the truth. I pray you’ll grow into a young man who speaks honestly, lives with integrity, and brings light wherever you go. May God give you courage to tell the truth and joy in knowing that He is always with you.
With love,
Your Godfather,
Uncle Juan