Dear Child

Dear Child,

You are our child and we love you.  We will always love you. 

We are your parents.  Webster defines parent as a protector or guardian.  It does not mean that we are your friend.  It is not our job to be your pal, your comrade, your buddy.  It is our job to be a role model for you, to be a source of guidance and boundaries.  It is our job to guide you down the path that will keep you safe, and protect you from harm.  It is our job to show you the love of your heavenly Father. 

We cannot make your choices for you.  We can only teach you all we know, and pray to God for you every night that you will listen to His guidance. 

We will not accept that "its what everyone else is doing".  You are not everyone else.  You are our child.  We will not stand by and allow you to be "everyone else".  You are our child.

We will guide you to be an adult that is worthy of respect.  We expect more from you than just what is given from "everyone else". 

We are not your friends.  We are your parents.  You may not like us, but we love you.  We are your parents, and you are our child.

Dear God,

Please be with our child.  Give her guidance when she is too "right" to listen to her parents.  Help her to be better than what everyone else is doing.  Help her to make the right decisions.  Help her to know you better and be the person you want her to be.  Help us to know how to show her what's right.  Guide us in how to be her parents, even when it hurts.  Help her to know that we love her, even when she doesn't like us.  Please, God.  Keep our child safe as only you can.                                        -Amen