Dear Frankie,
You’ve turned one year old, and
they weren’t joking that this times goes fast.
You’ve taught me so much in your
first year. You are a revolutionary for the fact that you’ve revolutionized my
life.
The thought of kids scared me to
begin with. Growing up as the youngest I never had younger siblings. So it took
awhile for the idea of kids to grow on me. But then it took three years and a
miscarriage before it finally happened. I had more growing up to do and needed to make some things right before the
Lord knew I would be ready. And now, thankfully, I have you. I also know that
if it hadn’t taken that amount of time, we might not have had you, and that
thought disturbs me.
I couldn’t have asked for a better
first child, but the thought of a girl scared me. I’m a man’s man and didn’t
know how the girl thing would work, but the Lord knew what he was doing, for if
I had had a boy first I would have been a harder parent. I don’t lack in
discipline, but I would have probably been too harsh. But since you own me
around your little finger you’ve worked on me like no son could have. You see,
you’ve taught me what true compassion is and how to care about others.
Having you also opened my eyes to a
truer concept of God’s love. Because anyone that can send his son to bare the
ultimate punishment of every person’s sin and die the cruelest death can show
no greater love. I can’t even comprehend the thought of turning my back on you
as you suffer someone else’s debt.
You’ve taught me there is every
reason to be open minded and to be as curious as I used to be with every
experience. To abandon the jadedness and cynicism for the idea of what fun life
can be. This one is a work in progress, but you’ve started me down the path.
And I can’t thank you enough for that.
You’ve taught me that life is not
all about myself. In order to be a good parent I’ve learned that selfishness
needs to cease, or at least decrease. I’m not perfect at this, but I’m working
hard to make sure this is true in my life.
Frankie, I want you to always
remember this. I love you and always will.
As you get older, even now at
times, I am going to frustrate the snot out of you (your mom can tell you about
this first hand), but I will always love you. You won’t be perfect and you will
make mistakes, but I will always love you. You won’t hit the mark, and you
might disappoint me at times, but I will always love you. There is never a time
you can’t talk to me, there is nothing you can do that you can’t tell me. I
love you and I always will.
I’ll say right now, the mistakes I
make as a father, I’m sorry. I will always try my best, but I too will never be
perfect.
You are the apple of my eye; you
are the delight of my heart, and I can’t be thankful enough that you are in my
life. To many more years, adventures, dances, naps, play times, meals, and
times I can’t comprehend at this moment. I love you and I always will.
Love,
Your Dad
