“I wrote these letters so that long after I’m gone,
you’ll know that I loved you, had great hopes for you, and
wanted to give you my best advice on living in this tough
world. If I can’t be there with you, I hope my letters will
act as a sort of reminder of me—as if I’m standing there
beside you, whispering in your ear, and putting my arm
around your shoulder.”
Mike Huckabee has worn many hats throughout his life:
pastor, politician, governor, presidential candidate, talk
show host, rock bassist, pundit, husband, and father. But
since his first grandchild was born, he’s found that the
role of grandfather is more satisfying than just about any
of the others.
Huckabee wanted to give something to his grandson,
Chandler, that would last forever. He began drafting a
series of letters to Chandler recounting heartwarming
stories from his past and the bittersweet lessons learned
along the way. With the birth of his granddaughter,
Scarlett, just a year later, Huckabee was further inspired
to convey his love and wisdom.
Dear Chandler, Dear Scarlett touches on the timeless
topics of faith, love, family, overcoming adversity, and
staying true to your values in the face of failure and
temptation. For instance, Huckabee tells how being forced to
pick up pecans from the trees in his yard taught him the
value of hard work. (“We were told that if we wanted to eat
that night and sleep in a bed instead of in the yard, we’d
pick up the pecans.”) Years later he learned the real
meaning of love after watching a friend care for his dying
wife who could no longer recognize him. (“He loved her not
because he enjoyed it or found pleasure in it, but because
he had promised that he would never leave her until death
parted them. And here he was, keeping that promise, faithful
to the end.”)
Like his bestseller A Simple Christmas, Dear Chandler,
Dear Scarlett isn’t about politics. It’s a deeply
personal, heartfelt, inspirational book that can be enjoyed
by anyone. As Huckabee writes: “Although my advice comes
from my personal experience and I’m writing with my
grandkids in mind, I hope any parent, grandparent, child, or
grandchild can take away something valuable from these
letters. I’ll try not to be too obnoxious, but don’t worry,
if you ever sit next to me on a plane, I’ll still be happy
to show you all the photos of Chandler and Scarlett I have
on my phone.”