compiled by Jane Robinson
Not long ago I sent an e-mail to the CTA staff, asking for copies of letters they’d written to their moms and dads and for letters they themselves had received from their children.
Unlike the moms who stopped by my office to tell me the stories behind their letters, the dads shared their letters with me via e-mail or quietly handed them to me. Sometimes moms brought in letters their children had written to their dads. In each case, though, the message remains the same. The letters touched the dads who received them, and the dads still treasure them—sometimes many decades later.
The Scriptures carefully point out the important role fathers play in the lives of their children:
God gives children a father for protection—“There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son” (Deuteronomy 1:31 NIV).
God intends to show children his own love through the love of earthly fathers—“The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him” (Psalm 103:13 NLT).
Through fathers, God teaches children what respect means—“Respect your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12 CEV)
Though imperfect, our earthly fathers (and mothers) point us to our perfect Father, the God who calls us to be his very own children, protects us as his children, and loves us more than any earthly father ever could—loves each of us so much that he sacrificed his own Son, Jesus, on the cross so that we can live in peace now and in the glories of heaven as his dear children forever.
In the meantime, we live here on earth, and as we do, we celebrate the gift of fatherhood. The letters below are arranged in order by the age of the writer. Read on!
Dear Daddy,
I love you. I love to do to play golf. I like to do I like to play with him. I like to play with him toys. I have a golf ball with a white golf thing.
Love,
Emily (dictated when she was 3)
To my Daddy and to my mommy,
Thanks for this new house mommy. And daddy thanks alonte for the modols. And for my fan.
Love
Matt
Dear Daddy,
I love you very, very, very, very, very much.
Love,
Your darter,
Sarah
[whose dad points out that she has since learned how to spell daughter]
Editor’s note: The following notes are part of a collection of 15 notes Em’s daddy saved. Em’s dad travels for his job, and she sent these notes along with him on one recent trip—one to read each morning and one to read each evening. (Em’s dad sometimes calls her Monkey.)
Monday Morning
Daddy,
I’m sorry I could not take you to the airport. But just rem. I love you and will miss. Hope you can understand. Call on my cell when you can.
Love,
Monkey
Wednesday Morning
Hope you have a good day today. Hope you slept good. Miss ya, and I’m trying hard but it is not easy.
Love,
Em
Wednesday Night
Daddy,
Hope you had a great day, and I hope you have a great night sleep.
Love,
Em
XOXOXOXOXOXO
Dad,
You wrestle with us.
You sled with us.
You fish & ride & bat with us.
While all the other dads sit in an office all day; you run us here & there & every where . . . to work, school or play.
Childish to others you may seem; to us your Super Dad! We look up to you. We [Jen, can you put a picture of a heart here?] you!
Love your daughters,
Allison (age 16)
&
Justine (age 15)
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
To My Dad,
Today we celebrate your 50th birthday and I want to take the opportunity to thank you for being my Dad. I want to thank you for always being upfront and honest with me. Even for the times you were painfully blunt. Thank you for setting a Godly example for me. Thank you for taking time for me for our special “dates,” the just me and you time. Thank you for going the extra mile to find things for us to do together. We would go fishing, canoeing, for ice cream, and my personal favorite, our horses. At a time in my life (I was 16) when most fathers and daughters have a “generation gap” we never did. Simply because you bridged the gap with horses. Even though I look back and know that sometimes you were exhausted and most of the time you were in pain, you went anyway. We spent all our free time with our horses but most important we spent it together!
All the hours we spent driving back and forth to Church, some may question why we drove 87 miles to church, one way, but when two people are in a car for hours each week you are bound to talk. That alone made it worth it. Dad even when I was being punished for something, I knew it hurt you too. You always had to show me what the Bible had to say about what I had done wrong. You were also quick to point out if I would have read my Bible ahead of time I would already know better! Dad you are not just an average dad, you are above average, you set the bar for all the rest. The very best compliment I could ever pay you is to someday, if I ever have children, I would want to raise them just like you did me. Because Dad . . . . YOU ARE THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS.
Love Always,
Your daughter
Dad,
Thank you for the fun and laughter you put into the life of our family. I love to remember the mornings when you’d come in from milking and tell us a joke you’d heard on the radio that morning. I love to remember the Sunday afternoon drives we took around the county just to see things and the trail you made through the woods for our Sunday family walks.
Thank you for the constancy you gave us—always letting us put our troubles in your shirt pocket, coming to our beginning band concerts and complimenting our performance, and bringing us to church every Sunday.
Thank you for teaching us honesty and integrity by showing us how to do business with other folks and making sure we were upright in our actions toward each other.
Thanks, Dad, for all the time you gave us. Even though I live far from you now, you’re still a part of me, and I’m trying to be the good parent you showed me how to be.
I love you, Dad, and I thank God for you.
Your daughter
