I will Give not Receive

As our birthdays approach each year, too many times we look forward to what people may be giving us as gifts. I decided yesterday that this year I was going to do something different.

I was thinking about what I would like to receive or what I could buy myself for my birthday. You know people give you a few dollars or some give gifts. I try to do something special with the money. I think it is better than just putting the money in the bank and spending it on normal items. As I was thinking, I realized I already had what most parents would really like for their birthday, heck for any day. I have four kids that love their parents, love each other, and love their God. They are doing their "job," that is going to college right now. They are making good grades, good friends and overall enjoying life to the fullest. They have good plans for the future and working their way to their own goals in life.

When I was in college, I always felt frustrated that I did not really know how my parents felt about me and where I was going. Did they like what I was doing? Did they approve of my goals? To this day I don't know whose fault that might be. Was it my fault for not listening? Was I susposed to ask? Or did they talk about things like that and I just didn't hear it. I don't remember being mad that they were not telling me specifics. I do remember being disappointed that they did not tell me what they thought. I know they told others what they thought and those people shared some things with me. But I could not discern an approval or disapproval from them. So it left me empty, looking for pieces of the puzzle that I could put together to make a picture of what they thought.

These two thoughts came together in what I wanted to give away for my birthday. I decided to write to each one of my kids, my thoughts on their lives and where they are headed. Kinda like a "State of the Child" address. It would let them know exactly how I feel about them. It would give me the chance to tell them exactly how much I love them. I will be able to share with them, what they mean to us, as their parents. It will also make sure they will never wonder, what I think about them and their plans for their life.

In the coming days, while I will not share the whole letter with you, I will share some major portions of each letter with you. So you will have some insight on where they are and what they are doing with their lives. I hope you will enjoy this as much as I will.