Mike Freed is a husband; father; grandfather; uncle; great-uncle; son; brother; nephew; cousin; (“ditto” most of those in-law) friend; retired Director of Christian Education; ex-theologian; recovering procrastinator, perfectionist and people-pleaser; emotional/binge eater, bipolar disorder and panic attack struggler/survivor/thriver; sinner/saint and now author. Contently incongruent, sometimes controversial, aspiring to be child-like; Mike’s mission in life is, “To walk humbly, yet courageously with God, do good, love and encourage others!” Passionate about God and people Mike strives to follow two main rules in life: Rule #1: Treat everyone as a child of God! Rule #2: See Rule #1.Mike also lives his life with a deep, dark secret, namely that his name is really, Ralph! Born Ralph Michael Freed, he has always been called, Mike, because his Father and Grandfather were also named Ralph. Indeed, it wasn't until he changed schools in 5th grade that Mike even knew his full name. The teacher was calling the roll and she called, “Ralph?” Mike didn't answer. “Ralph Freed?” she said, and Mike sheepishly respond-ed, “That’s my dad’s name.” Mike has made peace with the name, Ralph over the years. In fact he’s come to like it and even contemplated listing his full name or the dignified derivative, “R. Michael Freed” (by which the IRS and Department of Motor Vehicles know him) as the book’s author, but the simplicity and familiarity of “Mike” finally won out. "Drummer Boy's Lunchbox!" is Mike’s only book to date. Conceived of over 20 years ago, it endured many false starts and setbacks and appeared stillborn, until God recently breathed new life into the author and the project. Mike’s manic vision for this book was of course that it would become a bestseller. After almost 25 years of false starts and trying to make the book “perfect” it occurred to Mike (a slow learner at times) that “done” was perhaps, better than “perfect!” Though the book, in all probability, will not live up to his initial far-fetched expectations. Mike is confident that the book, like all of us, is “perfect” for God’s purpose and that God will use it and the author as He sees fit.Mike is content and happy in his current circumstances and yet he has aspirations of becoming a full-time writer, speaker and entrepreneur. Mike will do his best to discern where God is leading and to follow. Still, he is hoping for a “giraffe cookies and red juice in a ducky cup” continuation of this adventure! (See Chapter 4 - "Drummer Boy's Lunchbox")May God bless us and keep us, may He smile upon us, and may He enable us to grow in love, forgiveness and understanding of ourselves and others until he brings us and all things to completion, in Christ!Read more about this authorRead less about this author