To my three Angels:
As I come to a milestone birthday soon, it has given me cause to take a few moments to reflect on where I have been in my life, where I am now, and where I am going, or hope to be in the next few years. In summary, I can say that the struggles of my childhood have prepared me for the things I have today and given me a deep sense of appreciation for them. If not for those difficulties, I wouldn’t be the husband, father, worker, lover, friend, or man that I am today. I pray everyday to better myself in all of these and to continue to grow everyday.
As I come to a milestone birthday soon, it has given me cause to take a few moments to reflect on where I have been in my life, where I am now, and where I am going, or hope to be in the next few years. In summary, I can say that the struggles of my childhood have prepared me for the things I have today and given me a deep sense of appreciation for them. If not for those difficulties, I wouldn’t be the husband, father, worker, lover, friend, or man that I am today. I pray everyday to better myself in all of these and to continue to grow everyday.
To M.: My Angel of Reconciliation
My dearest, loveliest, and most sincere darling, I owe you so very much. You have walked with me and sometimes seemingly carried me through some of my most difficult times, and you have never once complained. You are the only person I’ve ever known that has shown me what totally self-sacrificing love looks like. You are and will always be my truest friend. Once, I told you a story about how before we were born, we were angels in Heaven and how we used to play together and oh, how we’d laugh. Our laughter was like a hymn of joy. Twenty years ago, we found one another here on Earth, and although our journey together has not always been full of laughter, the life we have built together has become a hymn of love, and it is no less lovely to our Father’s ears. You are my Angel of Reconciliation. You have helped me to reconcile the difference between the way I often see myself, and the way God sees me: whole, unblemished, new, and beautiful. Thank you.
My dearest, loveliest, and most sincere darling, I owe you so very much. You have walked with me and sometimes seemingly carried me through some of my most difficult times, and you have never once complained. You are the only person I’ve ever known that has shown me what totally self-sacrificing love looks like. You are and will always be my truest friend. Once, I told you a story about how before we were born, we were angels in Heaven and how we used to play together and oh, how we’d laugh. Our laughter was like a hymn of joy. Twenty years ago, we found one another here on Earth, and although our journey together has not always been full of laughter, the life we have built together has become a hymn of love, and it is no less lovely to our Father’s ears. You are my Angel of Reconciliation. You have helped me to reconcile the difference between the way I often see myself, and the way God sees me: whole, unblemished, new, and beautiful. Thank you.
To G.: My Angel of Redemption
You are the fairest, kindest, smartest and most encouraging person any father could ever hope to have for a daughter. Your gift of encouragement is from God’s hand, G. You may not know this, but you saved me from despair when you were barely a toddler. In my life’s saddest hour, the darkest night of my life, I held you on my knee and you said to me, “Jesus loves you daddy, have a happy heart.” I cannot even think about that moment without chills and tears. It was then that I knew all was not lost, that life could be redeemed and that no matter how I may try and fail or try and succeed, you would always love me and would always encourage me to strive for my best effort. Thank You.
You are the fairest, kindest, smartest and most encouraging person any father could ever hope to have for a daughter. Your gift of encouragement is from God’s hand, G. You may not know this, but you saved me from despair when you were barely a toddler. In my life’s saddest hour, the darkest night of my life, I held you on my knee and you said to me, “Jesus loves you daddy, have a happy heart.” I cannot even think about that moment without chills and tears. It was then that I knew all was not lost, that life could be redeemed and that no matter how I may try and fail or try and succeed, you would always love me and would always encourage me to strive for my best effort. Thank You.
To C.: My Angel of Restoration
My son. What an amazing young man you are becoming! So strong, but so kind. Brave, but merciful. I know that as you grow older you will continue to make your mother and me proud. May you too someday have a son and feel the joy and pride that I feel when I see you grow and learn. You may not know it, but you are a special blessing. When mommy, G. and I were almost down to having nothing, you came to us and proved beyond doubt that God was restoring His blessing on our family. I look forward to guiding you through the years as you grow into manhood. You are the blessing of a restored legacy. Thank You.
My son. What an amazing young man you are becoming! So strong, but so kind. Brave, but merciful. I know that as you grow older you will continue to make your mother and me proud. May you too someday have a son and feel the joy and pride that I feel when I see you grow and learn. You may not know it, but you are a special blessing. When mommy, G. and I were almost down to having nothing, you came to us and proved beyond doubt that God was restoring His blessing on our family. I look forward to guiding you through the years as you grow into manhood. You are the blessing of a restored legacy. Thank You.
My Angels:
I hope that in some small way I have been able to express and describe just a drop of the ocean of love I feel for all three of you. I am blessed beyond what any man, with all of my flaws, could ever even dream. In a few days, I turn forty and if there is any sadness in this milestone, it’s only in the fact that another forty, fifty, or even sixty more years is far too short a time to spend living with and loving my three Angels. I love you all.
I hope that in some small way I have been able to express and describe just a drop of the ocean of love I feel for all three of you. I am blessed beyond what any man, with all of my flaws, could ever even dream. In a few days, I turn forty and if there is any sadness in this milestone, it’s only in the fact that another forty, fifty, or even sixty more years is far too short a time to spend living with and loving my three Angels. I love you all.
October 29th, 2009
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