Photo provided by Abbie Long
“You can’t pick your family.” And while that might be true, if you are lucky, you realize that you could not have picked a better family yourself even if you tried, because you have already been blessed with the best one.
I know I probably do not say this enough, but, thank you, Mom and Dad.
You both have given me the entire world and everything that I could have ever dreamt of thus far in my 21 years of life.
You have continually supported every single crazy dream and thought that has popped into my tiny, little, brain of mine. No matter how dumb they may have been. “You can do it, honey,” you both said with supportive grins, even if you secretly did not believe that I could actually do it.
You have given up having a social life just so I could have one before I could drive on my own.
You have been there to wipe away the tears after those stupid boys broke my heart and I thought it was the end of the world at the time.
You have provided me with the essentials to survive everyday life, plus so much more.
Mom, you have taught me how to love fearlessly and to give everything I have and to keep pushing through the rough patches, even if I feel like throwing in the towel.
Dad, you have taught me how to save money, balance my finances and reassured me that I will indeed graduate college someday, even though it has taken me longer than most. And you have never once judged me for that. You just tell me to keep going, no matter how long it may take me to earn my degree.
You both have shown me how to love my future spouse unconditionally. I watch the way you two have loved one another for the past 28 years and it confirms my hopes that I will one day love someone like you two do.
I have done some pretty stupid things over the years but neither of you yelled at me for them. Instead you sat me down, talked to me in a calm manner and taught me right from wrong with immense amounts of poise and grace.
You have both taught me how to be strong in my faith and to love the Lord endlessly through the good and the bad.
But most importantly you guys have set the most incredible example of the kind of parent that I aspire to be one day.
I do not deserve either of you all. But I thank the good Lord above that He blessed me with you two as my parents.
Love,
Your first born
Thumbnail Photo By Courtney Hedger