Thoughts of the Father
Letters Between a Father and Son on Faith, Character, and a Life of Service
The Story
In 1985, a father—shaped by war, faith, and a life of service—sat down to write a series of letters to his young son. In them, he captured the lessons he believed mattered most: about character, responsibility, leadership, and what it means to live a meaningful life.
His son was too young at the time to fully understand them.
Decades later—after a life shaped by those very lessons, through military service, fatherhood, and loss—the son returned to those letters with new eyes. What he found was not just guidance, but a conversation that had been waiting to be completed.
Thoughts of the Father is that conversation.
Through the original letters and reflections written years later, the book becomes a bridge across generations—exploring faith, identity, and the enduring impact of a father’s voice long after he is gone.
Why It Matters
We all carry lessons from those who came before us.
Some were spoken.
Some were written.
Some were never fully understood at the time.
But at some point, we begin to ask deeper questions:
What kind of man am I becoming?
What does it mean to lead well—in my home, my work, my community?
What will I leave behind for those who follow me?
Thoughts of the Father speaks into those questions.
It is a reminder that wisdom is often passed down long before we are ready to receive it—and that part of our responsibility is to return to it, wrestle with it, and carry it forward.
Because the way we live today will shape the stories told by the next generation.
Coming Soon!
Support our work by purchasing your own copy from Amazon - Launching May 7th!
About the Authors
Robert E. McFall
Robert E. McFall was a member of the World War II generation whose life was shaped by faith, service, and a spirit of adventure. As a young man Bob served as a pilot in the United States Army Air Corps, flying transport missions across the China–Burma–India theater during the war. After returning home, he built a career in business while raising a family and continuing a lifelong search for spiritual understanding. In 1985, he wrote a series of letters to his young son to preserve the lessons he hoped would guide him through life.
Robert P. McFall
Robert P. McFall is a former U.S. Navy officer, business leader, and father of three. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he served at sea during the early years of the War on Terror before transitioning into business leadership and enterprise strategy. Decades after his father wrote Dear Son, Rob returned to those letters with a new perspective—as a husband and father himself—continuing a conversation across generations about faith, character, and living a meaningful life.