A Love Letter From My Father

Dear Daughter,

I see you.

I hear you.

I’m with you.

I will never leave you.

Or forsake you.

You are mine.

I want you to know something.

So listen up,

You are enough.

You are more than enough.

You are so enough I sent my only son to die for you.

On a cross.

Imagine it.

The agony.

The pain.

The heartache.

Nails in his hands

In his feet

In his sides

He did it for you.

I did it for you.

Because.

You.

Are.

Enough.

So why are you searching for approval from man?

Why are you seeking validation when all the validation you need is to look up?

At the cross?

At me?

Why do you fear tomorrow?

Or hang on to the past?

Why do you carry around the weight of the world?

Why do you feel like you have to?

It’s not yours to carry.
Sweet daughter of mine,

It was never yours to carry.

So.

Let go.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

And just let it go.

Let me take it from you.

You are loved beyond your own comprehension.

Beyond your own understanding.

Beyond the galaxies.

Deeper than the biggest ocean.

More than anyone ever could.

Even more than one who claims to love you most.

I know things are hard right now.

I know things are dark.

Darker than they’ve ever been, and

I know you feel like you’ve been in a season of

Waiting

Pruning

And purging

And you’re just ready for the mountaintop.

But listen.

The valleys are just as beautiful as the mountaintop. 

The valleys are where growth begins to happen.

It’s where I stretch you

And bend you

And form you into the person you’re meant to become.

So hang on.

Hang on to me.

I want you to know,

In this season,

I mourn with you.

I’m there beside you.

I’m there at the funeral of a loved one

Or as you comfort a friend.

I’m there when it’s 12AM

Your heart is pounding.

You can’t breathe.

You can’t fall asleep because your mind won’t let you.

And the tears overwhelm you and take over.

And the overflow of tears leaves your head throbbing

So much so you can hear your own heartbeat.

I’m there when you feel like you can’t go on.

When you get the most devastating news.

I’m there when something just has to give.

But it won’t.

Because well, life.

I’m there when you feel like you can’t take another step forward because you’ve been pulled too far back.

When your heart feels like it’s breaking into a million pieces

And you can’t do anything about it, and in your mind there’s never going to be healing.

I’m there when the physical ache of the grief cripples you.

And forces you into days of isolation and pain.

And anger.

And your heart aches stronger than you’ve ever known.

I’m there when you’re angry with me.

I’m there when your marriage is failing.

When you’ve tried

And tried

And tried again

But nothing seems to be the remedy.

Honey, it’s okay.

It’s okay to walk away because

I am with you.

I am always with you.

I’m there when your cat dies.

And the heaviness of that loss leaves you breathless

And numb.

For days.

Even months.

I know, she was your baby.

I know how much you loved her.

I’m there when life knocks you down.

When your pregnancy test is just another negative.

You got another period.

Again.

It’s just another harsh reminder that you’re not yet a mother.

I’m there when it’s a positive that you didn’t even plan for.

When you’ve lost another patient.

And another

In a 12 hour day.

I’m there when you lose your job.

I grieve your situation.

Every thing that pains you

Pains me.

I ache with you.

So, lean into me.

Lean in.

And trust me when I say

Rest.

Just rest in me.

I’m strong enough to carry you.

The grief won’t last forever.

The ache will diminish.

The pain will fade.

I promise.

But remember

On this side of eternity

There will be grief

There will be ache

There will be pain

But, I AM WITH YOU.

And I AM ALL THAT YOU NEED.

So, dear daughter,

I love you.

You are cherished.

And brave.

And loved.

And kind.

You are compassionate.

And giving.

And enough.

You are not a burden

Or a lost cause

Or too damaged to be loved by another

You are not too far gone

Or too emotional

Or too independent

Or too needy

You are not too much

Or not enough

You are perfect.

In every single way.

Every flaw

Every freckle

Every thin strand of hair

Every quirk

Every giggle

It’s nothing but beautiful to me

So to my dear daughter,

I want you to know,

I see you.

I hear you.

I’m with you.

But more than anything know –

I love you.

Always.