DEAR
DADDY

Topics: Children; Divorce; Family; Fathers; God as Father; Intimacy; Love; Presence

References: Romans 8:15; Ephesians 6:4

Here’s what some third graders had to say about their dads, bad spelling and all:

Dear Dad,

I love it when you take me on dates! I like it when you play baseball with me, miniature golf with me, and watch movies with me. I really aprisheate it! I like it when you tell jokes to me. I like it when you hug me and kiss me.

Daddy, I love you!

Dear Daddy,

I love you so much. When you are going to come see me agen? I miss you very much. I love it when you take me to the pool. When am I going to get to spend the night at your house? Have you ever seen my house before? I want to see what your house looks like. Do you? When am I going to get to see you agene?

I love you, Daddy.

One letter is from a child who knows her father’s presence. The second is from a child whose father, for whatever reason, has chosen not to be present.

—John Trent, “Promise to Be There,” Christian Parenting Today (September–October 2000)