Dear Little One,

In the beginning of our family, when you were still in God’s mind, there was a man who loved a woman. When he finally found her in the middle of a snowstorm, he knew her immediately as the mother of all his future memories.

For him, she was a promise. She would build for him a future of warmth and nurture. She would use steady hands and careful words to plant good seeds in their hearts. She would diligently weed out distractions like too much TV or the uninformed opinions of others.

He would provide for her the cement of commitment, creating a new foundation from which she would spring. He would build her up with the braces of clear vision and hard work. Painting her with bright colors of encouragement and critique.

Together they would build a home, complete with a life-giving garden. Complete with you. Complete with surprises, challenges, joys, difficulties and all.

But do not worry for these difficulties, child. For we, your parents, have counted the cost and continue to watch our investment. We pay meticulous attention to the details and progress of our home and our precious garden because it is ever so important to us that it thrive.

You might see this attention as the times we ask you to wait your turn to speak, when we call for a babysitter, or when we take couch time at the end of our work days. When we, your Mama and Papa, invest in one another, we are investing for you.

We are filling one another up and reminding each other of our project. We are setting our course straight, organizing our plan, and strengthening our resolve. We budget in our snuggles so that we can give you yours. We recharge each other so that we can run and play with you on full battery. You might have to wait sometimes for our eyes, ears, and arms. But I promise the waiting is worth it and will grow you exponentially.

These moments, these efforts, my love, they are for you, your children, and your children’s children.

We love you. We love you. We love you.

Xoxo,
Papa