Our son Michael is 13 today and is an amazing son and friend... he was just in Africa with me, is a straight A student and one of the best
athletes in our area. He has been most inspirational and the most valuble player on his football team the past three years! This is what his grandparents wrote him today; that's him in the middle, # 23, a true warrior.

Monday November 13, 2006

To: Michael R. Black

From Grandpa and Grandma Black

Under Talmudic law, when a boy reached the age of 13, he reached the age of responsibility. From that day forward he would answer for his own sins and be responsible for reading the scriptures, going to war if necessary, and seeking God.
Ezekiel 18:4, 18:20 and Roman’s 6:23. God becomes his refuge Psalm 46:1.

You are now reaching the age of accountability where you are going to be fully responsible for your actions to God Himself, your parents under modern law are still responsible for you legally but spiritually you are to become responsible for yourself.

You have been gifted by God to lead, teach and nurture your gifts of the Holy Spirit. Many of your generation wait to mature but you are already mature beyond your years and we are all watching you to see what you are going to become, in fact we are excited about it. Psalm 127:3 states that children are a blessing from the Lord and you are truly a blessing. Psalm 125:1 states that “Those who trust, lean on and confidently hope in the Lord are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides and stands fast forever.” Amplified version. This is what we see in you. Always put your trust and hope in Him.

When I changed my name from Randall to Black in 1957, I did not realize that your grandmother and I would start a whole new Black Family legacy, all of the other Black’s have passed away and had no son’s, so you and your brother’s are the generation that will carry on the name, the new spiritual blessing, that will bless thousands in Africa and other area’s the Lord leads in to. Your grandmother and I, especially your grandmother have prayed over you and all your siblings untold hours that you all may be established, protected, and blessed in all that you endeavor to do.

Read the scriptures, memorize them, plant them in your heart, stay away from sin and carry the name Jesus Christ on your lips always ready to give an account to anyone who asks.

God Bless You,

Grandpa and Grandma Black