Dear Mom and Dad,
I know that the last 4 years, since I’ve been at college, we haven’t really talked much. Most of our conversations were either surface-y or not ones I wanted to engage in, so I’d just shut off. Unfortunately, I’d say college drew us further apart rather than closer together. And while we had our good talks, I know now that I could have done better.
Last month in Belize, God asked me to “fast” from you, meaning stop communication, for the next month. When He said this, my initial thought was, “sure, no problem.” In my mind, I was thinking how I didn’t talk to y’all that much while I was home anyways, so what’s another four weeks? It shouldn’t be that hard. Boy was I WRONG.
Since we got to Honduras, all I’ve wanted to do every time I have wifi is call you. I want to tell you all about this country, our ministry, the people, funny stories, but I can’t. I have wanted to talk to you so badly that on Thanksgiving I prayed and asked God if I could please call you, just to wish you a happy day. I don’t think I have ever wanted to talk to you both more in my adult life than I do now. And wow, is it teaching me a lesson.
Through fasting the family, God has opened my eyes to how incredibly blessed I am to have you. Over the past few years I have taken you for granted. You have always been there for me, always supported me in a healthy and empowering way, taught me lessons when I needed them, and let me fall when you knew I would learn. In all the tough love, I learned that you really didn’t want me to fail, even though that’s what I thought at the time. You were teaching me how to grow on my own and how to depend on the Lord. You have always loved me, through all my seasons. And I won’t ever be able to express how grateful I am. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to realize how important you are to me.
You always told me our family was rich, not with money, instead with love. But I’ve come to find that you two are rich in so much more. You’re rich with love, respect, mercy, forgiveness, wisdom, kindness, knowledge, teaching, and grace. The amount of times I have messed up are too many for me to count, but still you love me. You taught me about my Savior, my Father in heaven, and have shown me His unconditional love for 22 years. You were the spark that ignited my fire, and for that I am eternally thankful. Literally, eternally, because now I have eternal life with you both.
I want you to know that I love you Momma. Thank you for listening to me when I just need to feel, thank you for teaching me for 8 years in school and 22 years in life, and thank you for being such a beautiful role model of a God-loving woman.
I want you to know that I love you Dad. Thank you for coaching me in sports and in life, thank you for taking me on dates when I was young, thank you for teaching me how to ride a bike and drive a car, and thank you for setting and example of what an incredible God-fearing man should look like.
Thank you both for loving me, for raising me, and for supporting me on this crazy journey. I am excited for the woman I am becoming and I couldn’t be her without you. I’ll talk to you in just a week, and I can’t wait.
I love you, I miss you,
your, Summer Jane
