Honor

 Ultimately, my Uncle Ray was a man of great faith. Otherwise, he'd have never survived.  

Over and over again, that's where my story leads.  The real truth is that all of this is temporary.  It can be gone in an instant, including your life, so always guard your honor.  Despite any mistakes I made, my honor remains intact.  As I continue to make mistakes, so does everyone else, and it's what you do to control the consequences of your mistakes that really matters.  That's how you find honor in defeat, through the lessons you learn from your mistakes.  From honor, redemption.  

My great-grandfather, Francis, spent years as a Civil War POW, got out of prison, married three times, and fathered over 20 children.  He was a tough old cavalry soldier; that's why I have more than 3,000 cousins scattered throughout the United States. He got around.  You might kill me off, but you'll never get rid of us. We built this country.   God bless America.  

Philippians 4:8-9.  The Message

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, compelling, gracious-the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not to curse.  Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw, and what you realized.  Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.