An Open Thank You Letter to my Parents

I just want to take a moment and say thank you to my mother and father for the way they raised me. I see so many millennial-aged young people floundering around in life, unable to find contentment, unable to submit to authority and just utterly confused because adult life isn't at all what they were taught to expect. I'm sure that cultural and environmental factors play a part in this; but I also believe it is mostly attributed to the way we were raised.

My brothers and I are far from perfect. My parents are far from perfect. But they got some things right and I'm so thankful they did. So with that in mind...

 

Thank you, Dad, for teaching us the Search for Truth home Bible study in the living room from time to time and holding regular family prayer meetings. In doing so you gave us a good foundational understanding of the Bible and a handle on prayer.

Thank you, Mom, for praying with us in the mornings before we left for school and then for us for hours after we caught the bus and left. In doing so you taught us by your example how to pray and I'm pretty sure there were times when it was only your prayers that kept us.

Thank you, Dad, for coming into our rooms every night to say a prayer with us and to hug and kiss us goodnight. In doing so you taught us that a godly father is loving, affectionate and prayerful.

Thank you, Mom, for never marching down to the school and demanding that my grades be changed. In doing so you taught me that I alone am responsible for my actions and that I must try harder.

Thank you, Dad, for coming into our bedrooms on Sunday morning and singing ridiculous songs and re-writing Dr. Seuss books to get us out of bed so we could get ready for church. In doing so you taught us that Church is not an obligation, but rather a privilege and a joy.

Thank you, Mom, that every time I was not invited to a birthday party or a sleepover, you did not get angry and confront the other girls' parents, demanding I get invited. In doing so, you taught me that people are fickle and that my self-worth does not come from other peoples' opinions of me.

Thank you, Dad, for sometimes working 3 jobs in order to take care of your family. In doing so, you taught us that laziness is never an option and that a little hard work never hurt anyone.

Thank you, Mom, for never getting involved in my work life from the time I had my first job at 17. In doing so you taught me that I am now an adult and I need to learn to handle some things on my own.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for raising us without a television. In doing so, you encouraged outside play, artistic creativity and a love for reading.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for never doing our homework for us but for always being willing to help. In doing so you taught me to ask for help when I need it but ultimately it's up to me to get the job done.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for consistently and fairly disciplining us when we misbehaved or were disrespectful. In doing so we learned that there are negative consequences to acting out and a little spanking never hurt anyone.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for letting us know that we are each unique and loved, but that we are neither superior nor inferior to ANYONE else. In doing so you taught us that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for NEVER letting us skip church because we were tired, had homework, had to get up early the next morning, or were involved with some other extra-curricular activity. In doing so you taught us that church is a priority and that Jesus should always be first in our lives. (And, hey, we survived!) 

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for making sure that we developed our talents, but never pushing us into the spotlight. In doing so you taught us to rely on God to put us where we need to be.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for never "calling" us to a certain ministry but for letting God call us and direct us. In doing so you taught us to seek the face and the will of God and trust in His plan and timing.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for listening to John Maxwell, Zig Ziglar, Dr. James Dobson and the like in the car or at home in the evenings. In doing so you learned how to be better ministers, employees and parents and we learned by seeing you learn.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for never fighting in front of us and for never speaking ill of each other. In doing so you taught us that a husband and wife are a team and a united front. We also knew that we could never pit you against each other to get what we wanted.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for never pushing us to "date so-and-so," or "break up with so-and-so," or "marry so-and-so." Instead you taught us what to look for in a mate and instructed us to proceed prayerfully. Then you covered us with prayer. I think the evidence of your wisdom in that area speaks for itself.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for never - literally NEVER - saying an ill word about a fellow church member, a teacher, a boss, and most importantly our Sunday school teachers, youth pastors and pastors. In doing so you taught us that authority should be respected, obeyed and honored.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for sticking to your guns when others criticized the way you raised us. In doing so, you taught us to stand up for our convictions even in the face of adversity.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for living what was preached across the pulpit. In doing so you taught us to obey the man of God and the word of God.

I could continue, but I'll stop for right now. My brothers and I may not have liked some of the "policies" that my parents implemented as children and teenagers, but I think I can confidently speak for all of us when I say that we see now what you were doing and why you were doing it. I, for one, am grateful. So thanks. I love you.