A Letter from Papa

Dear child,

As you look back on your life, you might be thinking about all the mistakes you’ve made. All the imperfect moments. All the things you thought you should have done but didn’t do.

You may think that as an all powerful being, not only is it within my power to see all your failures, but somehow they are always on my radar.

I want to break it to you. What are you even talking about?

I’m serious! I don’t even have a reference point for what these supposed failures are. I certainly haven’t seen any.

Could you have been a better mom? A better dad? Could you have performed better under pressure on that ridiculously stressful day you had last week? Perhaps, but I don’t think that makes you any better. And I don’t see your actions as something that makes you better or worse.

You see, as I see it, I see you. All of you. I see all the connections that make up who you are and what you do every day.

That time you lost your cool with your kids, I saw the stress you’ve been under at work. I see the relationship with your father crumbling, and how he never thought you were good enough. I see the factors that influence who you are and what you do.

When I say I see people by the heart, this is what I see. I can’t see people without seeing the ingredients that make up who they are, and how they arrived at where they are.

I understand it all. I feel your pain and your heartache, because I am right here with you. Did you forget I am living inside you?

Would it surprise you to find out that this whole time, it wasn’t my voice poking and prodding you every time you thought you messed up?

What if my voice was the kind, soft and gentle one in the background that you have been suppressing? The one that’s been saying, “Keep going! You will make it! I believe in you; you are good enough!”

The voice that you keep under wraps because you think it’s just wishful thinking, or too good to be true.

Would it shock you to find out that’s actually me cheering you on?

How would you feel if you knew that not only do I know where you are, but I see your glorious future of where you are going? And my favorite thing to do is to whisper sweet words of affection to you, that fill your heart with love and light, which will carry you one step further to become the man or woman I’ve created you to be?

If only you could see what I see, dear child. You are a work of art. The only flaw I see is when you don’t accept the reality that I literally have erased your sin with the blood of my son. It’s not that I choose not to look at it anymore, I don’t even know what you’re talking about when you keep bringing it up!

Can we move on to something more fun now? Like what kind of future can we design together? What kind of new friends can we make today and show them how awesome they are in my sight? And how powerful the kingdom is that resides within them that is closer to them than the air they are breathing?

I see everything, and I have seen every single effort you’ve made, even in secret. Even when no one was watching. No act ever done out of love will be lost, and I will cherish it forever in my hallway of treasures.

I am SO proud of you!

Love,
Papa