This is for my Dad!

Dear Dad,

This letter has been along time coming and for the last couple of months it's been a focus on my heart to reach out and say something. I know when I walked out of your life the summer of 2001 I knew my life would be different. I chose to end a relationship with my father and it hurt me deeply because I lost you as my Dad. I walked away for a life I knew I deserved but didn't know if I was truly worthy of it.

I had to save myself from the hurt, the pain and the feeling that I was chancing a dream that I would never get from you. It needed to end, the abuse and the struggle by the lack of emotional emptiness I was getting from you. All I ever wanted was to be loved by you like one's father loves his daughter. For that reason, I had to say goodbye.

When I left your life I was emotionally broken and I had to learn to live without you.  I had to look at my life differently and when people asked about you it was difficult to explain I have a Father but he's not in my life anymore.

This morning my prayer was answered and I was given words to express my longing to communicate with you. By words of faith that Jesus lives in me and through his grace I'm forgiving you and love you just how Jesus loves me and has forgiving me of my sins.  1John 4:10-12 This is Love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

The love of God changes people and he is changing me and I know that I'm a princess/daughter of the Highest King like you are a prince/son of the same Highest King. Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter, of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I found my life in Jesus and I embraced his open arms and through his transformation of my heart I know I'm worthy.  I also know through Jesus I Am God-Designed, Purpose-Intended, Significant, Lavishly-Loved, Princess/Daughter of the King of the Universe.

This is for God's glory and I'm praising him for giving me the strength to be set free from the chains I put within my heart that bound me up by the notion of rejection by you.  I truly love you and you may not be in my life any longer but I hope you have a great life and you find peace within you.

Much Love,

Darlene