Dear Daddy, 
I imagine the day I was born.   The doctor comes out of the delivery room to hand you me.  As you take me, the first words I hear spoken from you are words of affirmation, seemingly uttered oh, so, naturally.  As you speak to me, the doctor speaks, too.   Your little girl has been born with a birth defect.  Cleft lip and palate is what it is termed.  But don’t worry, Daddy, we will gather a team of specialist and will make her look as normal as possible.  As the doctor continues to speak, you look at me, tears are rolling down your face, because you are so enamored with your little girl, as if you never heard the words spoken by the doctor.

As the years go on, I grow to fall so deeply in love with you, and you me.  Thank you, Daddy,  for loving me the way you did.  I was your princess and you were my king.

I always wondered if you ever knew how much I needed you.   How much I needed those daily positive declarations reminding me of who I was in your eyes.   Oh, how I needed those looks of endearing love coming from you, my father.  

Daddy, around you,  I never felt anything but normal.  But all that came to an abrupt halt the day you were murdered.   

Daddy, you made the newspaper.  Day after day.  A news reporter said and I quote, “They are too young to realize the enormity of their tragedy.”    He was talking about me and Pete and Toni.   Daddy, I always wondered if that guy really understood the significance of his statement.   I doubt it.  But I did.  

The thought of losing you still brings tears to my eyes even today.  Oh, Daddy, I will love you forever.  Forever and ever.  I cannot wait to see you again ❤️❤️❤️  

Your daughter forever,
Lizzy

​As I penned this letter to my Daddy, fifty-one years have passed since his brutal, senseless, unsolved murder.   It took me a very long time, but I have finally made peace with it.  There is still an ache.  I really doubt it will ever go away, until I am in Heaven, until I am in his arms yet again. 
​

Some time ago, I wrote a letter to my Dad.  I never finished it until, one day, I finally picked it back up and completed it.   Then I wrote another letter and another.  When I first started writing the letters I didn’t realize it would be part of a series of letters, yet, here we are.  Welcome to ‘The Letter Series”.

​To live in the world and to make it,
First you must see yourself.
The reflection in a mirror must be known by you.
Then you can learn to love others
And they will be in your life forever
Whoever they may be!
Life starts with you and ends with you.
We live as we dream ——— alone…

So, many of you are thinking, friend, hmm, is this a letter?  

As I thought about how to open this series, the composition (above) came to mind, and correct, it’s not a letter.  I had just turned sixteen when I wrote the composition as an assignment.  I have carried it with me for well over forty years.   This is how I felt for the longest.  Every. Single. Day.  Alone.  This was my internal truth.  

Until it wasn’t.  

Until I found me.  The person God intended me to be.  

Today, I’d like to invite you on yet another journey, inspired by years of a messy diary of sorts, on the passage to wholeness.    Again, welcome to “The Letter Series.”

Let’s pray.

Father,
I thank You for Who You are.  I thank You that Your wrap-around Presence allows me to know I am safe with You.   Bless all those who journey through this series.  Speak to them as only You can do.    We are the clay in Your hands.  Mold us.  Make us.  In Jesus Name, Amen

Until next week,
Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM,
Liz

Father,
I want to achieve my purpose as You intended.   I really do.  I ask that You place people in my path who can help me to reach my full potential.  Surround me with those who can coach and motivate me.  Stretch me.  And if I must I will do it afraid.   I thank You and praise You in advance. In Jesus Name, Amen. 

Did you know birds are trained by their parents through what is called the power of reinforcement?  I didn’t until recently.   See, their main source of motivation is food.  The babies need food to survive.  Initially, the baby knows nothing more than the regular feeding intervals done by the Mom.  The Mom will come and drop some food off in their mouth.  After some time, when she feels they are ready, she will begin to stand farther and farther away forcing the baby to come to get the food.  That’s how it learns to venture out on the branch.   This is a repetitive process. 

​I also learned that some birds develop into strong fliers and become independent all within a couple of weeks.  It takes motivation by the parents, and so much more, to help the babies reach their full potential.  

As I watched the brood of young grow, and eventually leave the nest, I couldn’t help but think about their purpose and how it came about.    Day by day they were stretched to go a little further until one day they had gained the confidence to soar.   If they had failed to stretch they may not have fulfilled all of their purpose.

I believe the same is true for you and me.  If we fail to stretch, we may not fulfill all of our purpose.  

Stretch on purpose 💜

Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!