Letter to My Daughter

Victoria,

This book was written as a gift to you on your eighteenth birthday.  I hope you find it uplifting, inspiring, and helpful. Each entry represents something that I wanted to communicate to you. Most of the content is original but in a few cases the content was found elsewhere and deemed worthy of inclusion.

I wish this were not the case but I know that as you venture out into the world you will encounter numerous challenges. While I’d love to protect you from those situations, I know that it is part of the growth process and removing challenges from you would stunt your growth. As you encounter challenges, it is my prayer that the words in this book would be a reminder to you as to who you are and serve as an encouragement to you. 

It seems like just yesterday you were born.  Candidly, time has gone by so quickly that I’m struggling with the idea of you as an adult.  It’s not that you are not ready but rather that I’m not ready!  You have been everything a dad could ever ask for and then some. You were born to parents who thought they were grownups but as it turns out both of us had a lot of growing up to do. Somehow God extended his grace to us and helped us grow alongside you. There is no other explanation for how you turned out so beautifully and that’s the thing about the glory that belongs to Him.  Your mother and I cannot attempt to take any of the credit for the wonderful person that you are because we had less to do with it than either of us would care to admit.  That being said, it also means God has a very special plan for you – he has plans for all of us but the amount of grace that has been extended to you is quite unusual. It is indicative of someone who God plans to use in a particularly mighty way.  Just know that you’re ready for whatever that is. You've been preparing your entire life!

When you were born I was overwhelmed with emotion and excitement. I couldn't sleep for more than a day because I kept thinking “it’s my job to love and protect her for the rest of her life”.  From the first moment I held you, I instantly understood that my life would be forever different. 

Your significance on your mom and me cannot be overstated.  As you know, we married young and we both had a lot of growing up to do. That puts a lot of pressure on a marriage and early in our marriage there were times when I wasn't sure we were going to make it.  You were one of the reasons we kept fighting for it. We knew it was really important for both of us, and for you, to keep fighting.  By God’s grace – and only by God’s grace – we matured enough not only to stay together but to thrive together!

As we expanded our family you were the steady hand that was always willing to help. You've always been mature beyond your years and your maturity, heart, and demeanor, has set an example for your sisters to emulate.  

Regardless of your age you are always going to be my beautiful and brilliant little girl. The pages on the calendar have turned and when I look at you now, I see a beautiful young woman. I love you more than I could ever express to you.  I’m so proud to call you my daughter and blessed to be your dad. 

Love dad.