Day 24...A letter to my parents...

Dear Mom and Dad,

Yesterday, I was having a really hard time trying to figure out what to write.  Not because I don't have plenty to write, but because most things I thought of were very on the surface.  You know, the things I can find in a Hallmark card.  "Thank you for the all the things you have done, not letting me quit basketball my junior year of high school, putting up with me in 7th and 8th grade, praying for me when you could have given up, or for letting me make decisions you knew were wrong."  But I wanted my letter to be more meaningful than that.

On the way to work this morning, I saw a man standing on the side of the road with a sign that read "Not Homeless Father of 3.  Tough times, any help will do."  Here is this man, standing on the side of the road, begging for anything to help his family (real or not real), the perception is this man would do anything for his family, and I thought of you both and what I would write in my letter.

Mom and Dad, thank you for the things I didn't see you do.  The things I still don't know that you did.  The extra work, the late nights, the early mornings.  For the clothes and shoes I wore, the just because presents, school, summer camps, swimming lessons, family vacations, doctor's appointments, and just every day things you worked extra hard to provide me with.  Thank you for giving me a roof over my head and a strong Bible background.  Thank you for teaching me right from wrong just by your example.  I never look back and think I missed out on anything, and I hope you don't wish you could have given me more.  

Thank you is not enough for the things I don't know you did.  Thank you is not enough for the tears and hugs and kisses you gave me, but that's all I have.  So Thank You to both of you for my days and nights and my ... well... my whole life.  I wouldn't be here without you and the little (and BIG) things you have done!

I love you both... very much!

Carebear