Put Your Love In Writing
Michelle Watson
This week I hosted an online Zoom forum for dads of daughters, which was a new thing for me to try….and we all loved it! There’s nothing I love better than gathering with fathers from across the country who all have a similar goal of pursuing their daughter’s hearts with more intention.
[I do plan to do more of these online gatherings as I’m seeing the practical benefit of meeting in this way….so stay tuned!]
One thing we discussed was the idea of dads giving their daughters a special gift this Christmas by writing a letter to love and bless them.
If you want to join these dads and give your daughter a Christmas gift this year that:
Won’t cost any money
Won’t require driving to the mall (you’re welcome!)
Will only take 30 to 45 minutes of your time
Is guaranteed to be one of her all-time favorite gifts…then get your pen ready!
One of the greatest presents you can give your daughter is to affirm her through writing.
I speak from personal experience by sharing that I’ve saved all the letters and cards my dad has ever made me. And I’ve heard innumerable stories from other daughters who also have saved letters and cards from their dads, which are sacred treasures, especially for those whose dads are no longer here to tell them in person that they are loved.
And in a world where written communication is increasingly digital (texts, emails, tweets), a letter scripted in your own handwriting is sure to stand out as unique.
Dad, put your words of affirmation, acceptances, belief, encouragement, promise, and praise into writing because your daughter will treasure what you say to her for a lifetime.
The time you spend now putting your thoughts, feelings, prayers, wishes, hopes, and dreams into written form will pay dividends long after you’re gone as she reads and rereads your words.
Whether you’re a dad who has already begun this practice or you are a tentative newbie, I want to share a few ideas to support your pen-to-paper challenge.
Here are a few dad-to-daughter letter-writing ideas to add to your repertoire:
What is one of the first things you remember about her from when she was born and you looked at her for the first time?
What beauty did you see in her then and what beautiful features do you see in her now? (Girls love hearing about their eyes, smile, and the unique features that you see as beautiful)
Write about a favorite childhood memory you have of her
What strengths do you believe she has, both in terms of skill and in her person (her character, personality, etc.)?
Write about a favorite childhood memory you have of her
Tell her specific reasons you’re proud of her
Write about what obstacles you have seen her overcome—emphasize such qualities as courage, resilience, strength, commitment, endurance, and power
Write about dreams you have for her future, whether in the form of your wishes for her or things you pray about for her—do this without preaching or lecturing, only encourage
Tell her what it means to you to spend time with her
Communicate why you love being her dad in this season of her life (add current things about her age right now that you’re aware of and highlight them as positive)
Let her know that you will always be there for her, telling her what it means to you to be her dad
Dad, as you give your daughter the gift of a letter from you this Christmas, I guarantee it will be one of her favorite gifts that will last a lifetime.