A Letter From Dad To Son
This note was found at my parents’ house a little while back. There was no date on it, but it had to be while I was in college getting ready to go on one of my trips to Amsterdam with the college ministry I was involved with at the time.
Two things that strike me: 1) I get my handwriting gene from my Dad, and 2) This made my day. I hope my children will find things like this from me when they’re older.
It made me think: how do we speak truth into our childrens’ lives? Through actions, words, notes, etc? Have you received something like this from a parent?
Note: This was first posted on our family blog. Felt it was more appropriate here.
Michael
January 26, 2011This is really cool man. Really made my day.
Dustin
January 26, 2011yep, glad you stopped by today!
Jim F
January 26, 2011Love this. It is a great thing to get that kind of encouragement!
I have done the reverse too – when I first became a father I wrote letters to my parents thanking them for the way they raised me and for all the sacrifices that they have made through the years for me.
Thanks for sharing this and thanks for the link to the family blog – cool seeing what has been going on there too.
Dustin
January 26, 2011that’s a great idea Jim. i appreciate the thoughts!
Ben
January 26, 2011This reminds me of the catalyst which lead me to start being focused on blogging (instead of once every other week). When my grandfather passed last Christmas, we found a bible that was something like 70 years old. It was ancient. Inside of it were little notes here and there, encouraging letters to my father, etc…
I’m hoping later down the road I’ll have my blog archived, maybe even my twitter/facebook status updates (thinkup?) so my children can look back at the little notes/mentions/inspiration nuggets we gave them. That would be sweetness.
Dustin
January 26, 2011i love the idea that down the road my kids can look at this stuff, all archived and all… kinda like our own digital-journal, I suppose.
my mom has my great-grandmother’s Bible that is all “marked up”. I know it’s one of her most cherished possessions. kinda makes you think about the legacy we’re leaving behind for our kids…
Ben
January 26, 2011I’m going to tackle the app one of these days, check it out: http://thinkupapp.com/
Dustin
January 26, 2011Hmm, now that’s interesting. Thanks for the link!
Jason Vana
January 26, 2011Wow – that is so awesome. I definitely want to do things like this when I end up having kids. And it sparked an idea in my head to do something like this for each of the students I am taking with me on a mission trip. Thanks for sharing this!
Dustin
January 26, 2011Jason, we did that once–personal notes from each of the folks we took on a mission trip. In fact, during some prep-time we specifically had an individual verse that we wrote down for each person as well. It definitely was one of those memorable moments for a lot of them.
Moe
January 26, 2011Dude, you are totally making my mom look bad. :(
Last letter I got from her, said something about making sure I paid the cable bill. :)
Seriously, this is an awesome letter. You have to frame that bad boy.
I really love when she outlines the 3 things that you should have remembered. (well did you?). Very cool.
Is she looking to adopt? Cause, I’m available.
Moe
January 26, 2011Man, I read wrong. I didn’t realize you said dad (I read mom).
If you excuse me, I’m going to sign up for “detailed reading 101 class”.
:(
Dustin
January 26, 2011It’s all good…. :)
Have I kept thought 3 things? I’d like to say yes, but still have much to learn about and grow in. It was definitely a ‘special-find’ for sure.
herbhalstead
January 26, 2011That’s awesome. You’re lucky to have had your family close as you were growing up. I did not have that, but tried hard to give that to my kids.
Dustin
January 26, 2011Thanks, Herb – I appreciate your comment!
seekingpastor
January 26, 2011Not from a parent, but I have received notes like this from people I did not know who read something I wrote in a small, weekly newspaper. It was hugely encouraging.
Dustin
January 26, 2011Cool… especially from a stranger. What newspaper?
jay sauser
January 26, 2011very cool man, very cool
Dustin
January 26, 2011thanks Jay. hey, thanks for stopping by!
Donald Borsch Jr.
January 26, 2011>>It made me think: how do we speak truth into our childrens’ lives? Through actions, words, notes, etc? Have you received something like this from a parent?
I say to my daughters:
I bless you, in the mighty name of Jesus. I bless your life, your health, your spirit, and your intellect. I bless the family of the man you may one day marry. I place my right hand of blessing upon you, my daughter, as a father should. IN Jesus’ name.
As a father, I know I am only stewarding my daughters for my Father in Heaven. True, I love them deeply, but not 1 billionth as much as He loves them. It is so important to bless our children as fathers. We are their first impression of God.
Prayer, blessings, hugs, smiles, playing, laughter, being attentive, and at times, discipline, are the ways we do this. Nothing against mothers, no. We all have mothers! But not all of us have fathers. It is for us to bring the station and strength of fatherhood back to where it belongs. After all, of all the names Jesus could have called God, He instructed His disciples to call Him as Father. This means something to Jesus. It means something to us.
Dustin, I am very glad to have found your blog. Fatherhood is the heart of God and sonship is the blood that flows through it.
Dustin
January 26, 2011“I love them deeply, but not 1 billionth as much as He loves them.” – SO TRUE.
Donald, I’ve appreciated your comments this past week so. Thank you for the kind words!
Donald Borsch Jr.
January 26, 2011D,
Likewise, my friend. Likewise, indeed.
Leaidan
October 23, 2011You get a lot of respect from me for writing these helpful artcelis.
Dewitt Robinson
January 26, 2011Powerful Dustin! This will definitely be a reminder to your daughters of their legacy of faith.
Dustin
January 26, 2011Thanks Dewitt for the encouragement. And, I appreciate you stopping by!
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@realpb
January 26, 2011beautiful. this letter speaks volumes about who you turned out to be and how. we owe so much to this kind of love. i’m gonna write a letter to my son tonight, thanks to you buddy.
Dustin
January 26, 2011yes! do it paul!
Keri
January 26, 2011Dustin…does it make you wonder at all if there is a reason that you are only NOW reading this letter? That’s the thought that immediately came to mind, especially when I saw your response about it being a “special find”.
I have a journal for each of my 3 boys. It’s a good intention, but I don’t often write in them. :( This is a good reminder for me to be more intentional about that. Reflecting on the past is such a powerful way to see how God has worked in and through our lives. And, if there are no tangible reminders of that, it’s easy to forget.
Dustin
January 26, 2011Interesting, didn’t think of it in that way…
And by the way, my wife and I were just now reading through your comment and really like the idea of keeping a journal for each of our kids…to capture special moments/sayings/etc. Thanks!
Larry Hehn
January 26, 2011Amazing letter. I got one like that from my parents more than 25 years ago. I still have it.
Dustin
January 26, 2011That’s great, Larry!
Alex Humphrey
January 26, 2011Dustin, thank you so much for commenting on my blog, I would have never of found yours otherwise!
This is such an encouraging thing to read, it reminds me that I need to write more notes for those I love.
Thank you for sharing your journey into fatherhood with us. It is absolutely amazing!
Dustin
January 26, 2011Alex, sure thing and likewise! I appreciate those kind words…
Thanks for stopping by!
ThatGuyKC
January 26, 2011What an awesome letter!
One reason I like social media, blogging and such is that it helps to document part of my kids life if only through my eyes. It would be much more difficult to physically accumulate all the photos and notes.
Dustin
January 26, 2011Completely agree – It’ll even be really neat to see how it all evolves in 5-10 years…
Jon Malstrom
January 27, 2011I have a letter like this from my Dad also. He gave it to me on my wedding day. I look at it every 5 years or so and it brings me encouragement. Thanks for sharing this.
Dustin
January 27, 2011awesome, thanks Jon for stopping by. I’m with you you-definitely encouraging!
Melissa Brotherton
January 27, 2011That is so cool! I love how intentional he was in his words to you. I try…but so often I fail in this. And I tried to do a journal like Keri mentioned for my kids, but I think my kids found it during one of their scissor phases and made confetti of their memories. :) Haha!
Dustin
January 27, 2011so true- handwritten notes (especially ones like this) are intentional! and honestly, i think we’re going to try the journal-thing with our girls… we’ll see how it goes! :)
Justin
January 27, 2011Dustin – what a wonderful gift from your Dad. In a day when many men are abandoning their families – you have this. Beautiful.
Dustin
January 27, 2011thanks, Justin.. I appreciate your comment
Jay Cookingham
January 27, 2011That’s an awesome letter bro’. A dad’s blessing carries a lot of weight! Thanks for sharing.
Dustin
January 27, 2011It sure does… and you’re welcome!
jenn
January 28, 2011What a cool find. And a great memory also. I need to remember to write more things like this for my daughter to read later in life. Also, I love the journal idea. I may have to try that as well.
Dustin
January 28, 2011thanks jenn, i encourage you to try it out!
Louie Valencia
January 28, 2011Two things Dust….
1) yes, the handwritting gene is a Valencia guy thing – sorry.
2) My prayer and hope is that you become a better father to your children than I was to you, your brother, and sister. My training was from taking the best from my dad and observation from you mom’s dad – and blending those learnings to be the best I could. My hope is that you take what ever you see as best attributes from me and Mr. Mason, and become a great father. What I see now (and am VERY proud of) is that you are a FANTASTIC father. It makes my heart grateful to see and know of the man and father that you have become.
As I said in the note, always be reminded of the three things. Love ya, Dad
Dustin
January 28, 2011Boom! Thanks Dad. Love you!
Michelle
January 28, 2011As someone who longed my entire life for anything from my dad, I couldn’t help but tear up after reading this. Wow. This is powerful. Words of affirmation from your dad. I lost my dad when I was 11 and there is nothing that can replace the words of a father to his child. Nothing, except of course God. But we all need things like this to lean on and reflect on. We all want our parents to be proud of us.
I make an effort to write to my kids. Sometimes its not very often, but still..I do it. I don’t know if they keep my letters. This just reminds me to keep on with what I’m doing. Thank you for sharing this with us (and with me).
Dustin
January 28, 2011Michelle, I appreciate you being so transparent. I think you’re right- there really is something special about a word of affirmation. I’m certain your kids will look back at your letters from them (may be soon, may be later) and see that your heart was to love and point them to God. Thanks for your comment!
Tom Raines
January 29, 2011Man, great inspiration to write a letter to my children. Not better day that today. What confirmation and love is felt here that will help a childs heart and head for the rest of their lives. Amazing the correlation and confidence we get when we reads God’s letters to us. The confidence to overcome whatever is thrown our way.
Dustin
January 29, 2011You’re right, Tom. Finding this spoke volumes to me, and I’m certain the letters you write to your children will as well!
Epifania
September 15, 2011Useful and intriguing arguement, but feel a bit additional and describe your which means behind this.
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