Question:
I just listened to part 1 from Sept 15th Focus on the family about leaving a legacy for my family. He encouraged dads to write letters to their wife and children that they can look back on for years to come and know that they were loved by their dad/husband and they themselves are very special. So, I thought I'd start a thread where I could write a letter to two of my daughters who are away from home. One married and one in school. I'd like to encourage other dads out there to write letters of encouragement to their wives and children. They of course, don't need to be written here, but if it seems appropriate, by all means do so.
Answer:
I will always remember the caring face of my little 2 year old daughter looking down on me after I'd slipped off a step stool and saying "daddy, you alright". I was to see many more years of a tender, caring heart. Your heart is a heart that God has and is going to mold and use to stretch out His love to many.
Jesus said that unless you come unto me as a child, you will in no wise inherit the Kingdom of heaven. Becky, you have the heart of child and yet the wisdom of one beyond your years. I'm so proud you and your bravery in stepping out to go to another state to live with strangers in a strange and different land (Tallahassee, FL).
I love you Becky more than I can express in words. I long to hold you and protect you from all evil, but I can't and so I must continually place you back in our heavenly fathers arms where we all belong. Please let our heavenly fathers arms enfold you and watch over you. As you consider my great hugs (which you taught me), consider God's greater hugs that he surrounds you with even now.

Answer:
Rachel, Rachel, Rachel,
Being my first born, you were always our experimental daughter. The book says we shouldn’t feed you anything with wheat in it before you’ve gone through rice, barley, etc., etc. TV is bad for little ones so we didn’t have a one until your sister was born. You were an adorable, wonderful child. We figured since we did everything by the book, we wouldn’t have the issues other less spiritually discerning parents had. But then you turned 13 and went through a period of rebellion and all we could do was turn to God in prayer. You came around and by 15 you were wonderful again. Then you turned 18 and we asked ourselves. Now what do we do with our almost adult child?????? Again we found turmoil and heartache. All vestiges of pride in our abilities were lost. Again all we could do is turn to God in prayer. The fact we had to face was that in the end, all any of us can do after doing what we believe God’s led us to do; is to turn to God in prayer.
What I’d failed to recognize through it all was that God was actually at work in you all along. You took responsibility, you did well in school, you got a job and handled it responsibly, and you fell and picked yourself up and learned from the experience. I was upset because I couldn’t do the picking up, I couldn’t direct you as I had before, I couldn’t demand that you live righteously.
I’ve discovered that now that you’re married and away from us, all that hard work, teaching, tears, and prayers was worth it. You are becoming the woman of God that we always desired for you. You didn’t do it our way and you certainly aren’t doing it the easy way, but … it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
I hope you know just how much I love you, Rachel and I always will no matter what. You are very special. Keep pressing in and building in God’s kingdom.
Hugs and kisses from your dad.
Answer:
Originally Posted by anelderone I will always remember the caring face of my little 2 year old daughter looking down on me after I'd slipped off a step stool and saying "daddy, you alright". I was to see many more years of a tender, caring heart. Your heart is a heart that God has and is going to mold and use to stretch out His love to many.

Jesus said that unless you come unto me as a child, you will in no wise inherit the Kingdom of heaven. Becky, you have the heart of child and yet the wisdom of one beyond your years. I'm so proud you and your bravery in stepping out to go to another state to live with strangers in a strange and different land (Tallahassee, FL).

I love you Becky more than I can express in words. I long to hold you and protect you from all evil, but I can't and so I must continually place you back in our heavenly fathers arms where we all belong. Please let our heavenly fathers arms enfold you and watch over you. As you consider my great hugs (which you taught me), consider God's greater hugs that he surrounds you with even now.



I love you Dad.
Answer:
Originally Posted by anelderone Rachel, Rachel, Rachel,
Being my first born, you were always our experimental daughter. The book says we shouldn’t feed you anything with wheat in it before you’ve gone through rice, barley, etc., etc. TV is bad for little ones so we didn’t have a one until your sister was born. You were an adorable, wonderful child. We figured since we did everything by the book, we wouldn’t have the issues other less spiritually discerning parents had. But then you turned 13 and went through a period of rebellion and all we could do was turn to God in prayer. You came around and by 15 you were wonderful again. Then you turned 18 and we asked ourselves. Now what do we do with our almost adult child?????? Again we found turmoil and heartache. All vestiges of pride in our abilities were lost. Again all we could do is turn to God in prayer. The fact we had to face was that in the end, all any of us can do after doing what we believe God’s led us to do; is to turn to God in prayer.
What I’d failed to recognize through it all was that God was actually at work in you all along. You took responsibility, you did well in school, you got a job and handled it responsibly, and you fell and picked yourself up and learned from the experience. I was upset because I couldn’t do the picking up, I couldn’t direct you as I had before, I couldn’t demand that you live righteously.
I’ve discovered that now that you’re married and away from us, all that hard work, teaching, tears, and prayers was worth it. You are becoming the woman of God that we always desired for you. You didn’t do it our way and you certainly aren’t doing it the easy way, but … it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
I hope you know just how much I love you, Rachel and I always will no matter what. You are very special. Keep pressing in and building in God’s kingdom.
Hugs and kisses from your dad.
I love you as well dad. But I liked what you had to say about Becky better. Why has she always been the favorite daughter? just kidding!!!!! Thank you for writing those.