Four Lessons I’ve Learned from Ford

By David Day on October 8, 2026

I’m doing my weekly letter a day late this week because today is a special day.

And, for those who think these letters are all planned way in advance, here’s your proof that they aren’t.

Today is my current middle child’s birthday.

Ford turns five.

So instead of writing about whatever topic was on my list, I wanted to write about the lessons he’s taught me.

Lesson #1: It’s Never Too Late to Make Someone Smile

In true middle-child fashion, Ford knows how to have a good time.

He loves attention, loves making people laugh, and is always ready with a joke.

I can’t tell you how many times we’ve been in the middle of a “teaching moment” with one of our kids when Ford decides that moment is the perfect opportunity to say the funniest thing he can think of.

Just like that, the mood changes.

Usually for the better.

He’s quick to become the center of attention. Quick with a joke. Quick to make everyone in the room laugh.

Of course, that comes with some consequences.

It’s hard to keep a straight face during a serious conversation when he suddenly rips a “toot” joke or asks if we’re speaking Spanish.

Ford is here for a good time.

But what I’ve learned from him is that laughter has a way of bringing people together. Sometimes the best thing you can do for someone isn’t solve their problem, it’s simply help them smile.

And Ford has mastered that.

Lesson #2: Don’t Be in a Rush

One day Ford came up to us and announced that he wanted to play basketball.

To give you some perspective, he gets tired playing t-ball.

So naturally, I had questions.

Basketball is essentially running without stopping, while Ford’s preferred pace is somewhere between strolling and standing still.

Our jolly little guy is never in a rush.

He’s never quick to clean up.

Never quick to brush his teeth.

Never quick to get ready.

There’s always something more interesting happening that deserves his attention.

Oddly enough, that’s something I’ve learned from him.

I often hear my wife say, “They’re getting too old too fast.”

And she’s right.

So much of life is spent looking ahead to the next stage. The next promotion. The next vacation. The next milestone. The next season of life.

Meanwhile, Ford is still enjoying the one he’s currently in.

Seeing him turn five happened way too fast.

I still remember him trying to sing Creed from his crib at night with his older brother. I remember him discovering his belly button and proudly calling it his “belly hole.”

Those moments feel like yesterday.

Life moves fast enough on its own. We don’t need to help it.

Ford reminds me of the famous Ferris Bueller quote:

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Thankfully, we’re not too worried about Ford missing out on life.

Lesson #3: Be Quick to Forgive

C.S. Lewis said it best:

“We all agree that forgiveness is a beautiful idea until we have to practice it.”

Ford is the kind of kid who just wants to be your friend.

You could steal his lunch, punch him in the stomach, insult his smile, and as long as you ended the interaction by saying, “Want to be friends?” he’d probably say yes.

All would be forgiven.

At least unless you’re his little brother.

Holding grudges simply doesn’t take up much space in Ford’s world.

And honestly, that’s something most adults could learn from.

It’s incredibly easy to stay angry.

It’s easy to keep score.

It’s easy to replay every offense and every wrong.

What’s hard is letting it go.

But carrying resentment is exhausting. It steals joy from our lives and builds walls between us and the people around us.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending something never happened.

It means choosing relationships over resentment.

Community is how we become stronger. Bitterness is often how we tear those communities apart.

Ford has always been the best example of making everyone his friend.

Lesson #4: Party Like There’s No Tomorrow

Every day is special.

Something great can happen.

Something unexpected can enter your life.

Embrace it.

Ford is constantly guilty of saying, “This is the best day ever!”

Not occasionally.

Constantly.

If he gets to do something new, build something, play with friends, go somewhere different, or have a little adventure, then by his standards it’s automatically one of the greatest days of his life.

I wasn’t able to watch his t-ball game last night, but he couldn’t wait to tell me all about it.

According to Ford, he played incredible defense and hit absolute dingers.

In his mind, it was the greatest game he’d ever played.

That’s just who he is.

Ford is optimism in human form.

As I was writing this, my wife sent me a picture of an old beat-up Toyota Corolla. The kind of car most high school kids would drive.

The caption read:

“That is a BEAUTIFUL car.” – Ford

Nothing is too insignificant.

Everything is worth celebrating.

Every day holds the potential to be special.

And Ford genuinely believes that.

Final Thoughts

When I sat down to write this, I thought I was writing about Ford turning five.

Instead, I realized I was writing about the things he teaches me every day.

Make people smile.

Slow down and enjoy the moment.

Forgive quickly.

Celebrate everything.

Those sound like lessons from someone who has lived a long life and figured it all out.

Instead, they’re coming from a little boy who still thinks a beat-up Toyota Corolla is beautiful and believes almost every day is the best day ever.

Maybe that’s why these lessons matter so much.

As adults, we spend so much time trying to become more successful, more productive, and more prepared for what’s next.

Meanwhile, Ford is busy reminding us that life is happening right now.

In the laughs around the dinner table.

In backyard baseball games.

In friendships that survive disagreements.

In finding joy in things most people overlook.

Five years ago, we were blessed with a boy who could light up a room just by walking into it.

Today, that hasn’t changed one bit.

Happy Birthday, Ford.

Never stop making us laugh.

Never stop finding the good in everything.

Never stop showing us what it looks like to truly enjoy life.

Because if there’s one thing you’ve taught me, it’s this:

Nothing is too insignificant. Everything is worth celebrating.

Love you, buddy. ❤️