Mr. Andy Christian
13 Maple Lane
Clover County, GA

Question: Think about the past for a moment. Who were you? Who did you used to be?

Answer: As a boy? A Christian. A letter-writer. A good kid, mostly. Quiet. I spent a lot of time alone.

Favorite memories... Hmm.... playin' outside. Burnin' ants with sunlight funnels -- til I learned that was wrong. Can't kill none'a God's creatures. Once I learned that, well, when I saw other little kids doin' it, I'd club 'em with my baseball bat. Learned my lesson. Carryin' the message of the Lord - "live and let live."

Now I'm a man and I'm a dad. But I don't hit my girl like my dad hit me. I don't believe that's right. I just tell her - in a quiet, adult voice - that the Lord's gonna punish her. If she don't eat her peas, there's Hellfire. The devil preys with an "E" on little girls who don't pray with an "A." That's a good teachin', 'cause it's spelling and religion all wrapped in one.

You always gotta choice -- behave or burn.

I don't need a bat or a hairbrush - like my mom and pop used - but that's the point of each new generation, right? To improve upon the last one?

I like to think so.

It don't matter who I was, 'cause what's important is who I am now. I'm a great father. I'm proud of my family and I'm proud of my little girl.

I know Christ is proud of us, too.