Definition of “I love you”
Dear Dad,
They asked me what love was to me and all I could think of was you.
Without you I wouldn’t get those, “text me when you get home” messages from my boyfriend.
The love I get from him is the kind that awakens the soul and makes me reach for more.
He plants a fire in my heart and brings peace to my mind. That is what you have given
me, what I hope you are finding.
Without you I wouldn’t believe that the man upstairs has my best interest in mind.
For many years I have struggled, wanting an answer to all of my questions and I never
knew how to get help. I always wanted God to just walk into my room and say, “so this is
what you need to do…” However, I have learned that is not how he works. There are
three ways he helps us in life. He says yes and gives you what you want, he says no
and gives you something better, or he says wait and gives you the best. Being patient
with him will give you all of the love in the world you need.
You are the reason why I can call my mom my hero and my sister my best friend.
Growing up I was blessed with an older sister that had my best interest at heart. She
always had my back, made me laugh when my life was falling apart and would pick me
up at 2 am if I needed to go home. My sister became my number one supporter out of
what seemed like nothing. She taught me my worth, how I deserve to be treated, and
not to put up with anyone’s nonsense. Now, growing up I watched my mom raise two
girls by herself. She provided the world and more to my sister and I. I learned how to be
a respectable friend, how to talk to parents, how to treat my friends and most
importantly, how to be strong.
It is you who proved to me that self love is greater than any other payback. I
learned how to build an unbelievable support system of friends and family. I started
putting myself first and most importantly, I started truly loving myself. I now do what
makes me happy and what will help me in the future. I could not have done any of that
without you.
“I love you” means that I accept you for the person you are and that I don’t wish
to change you into someone else. It means that I don’t expect perfection from you; just
as you don’t expect it from me. It means that I’ll love you and stand by you even through
the worst of times. It means loving you when you’re in a bad mood and too tired to do
the things I want to do. It means loving you when you’re down, not just when you’re fun to be with. “I love you” means that I know your deepest darkest secrets if you’ll let me
and don’t judge you for them, asking in return only that you do not judge me for mine. It
means thinking of you, dreaming of you, wanting and needing you, and knowing that
you feel the same way for me. There, of course, is always more. But some things are just
harder to put in words so all I need to say is, I miss you Dad, just know you are the reason I believe in love.