A Letter To My Children- Things That Matter

Dear Children,

I never get tired of watching that video because it makes me feel hope and reminds me that moments matter. Whenever you gain the keys to this kingdom you will see I have used it more than once but that is because it is important.

It is important because as you go through life you will collect your own moments and memories. Some of them will be good, some will be bad and some will be awful, but most will be good.

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When the hard times come and they will you’ll look to certain moments to help restore your center. Sometimes I do that by thinking about the last time I saw your great grandparents dance.

It was at their 75th wedding anniversary party. You are too young to recognize how amazing that is, but trust your old man- it is not something most people will see. They made it to 76 years and then grandma died.

Grandpa died 18 months later. The docs say the cause of death was old age, but I know better. Grandpa died from a broken heart. He did the best he could to go on without grandma but it was just too much for him. It is ok, he died a hero.

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People are struggling now and it is not just because of a bad economy or just because something very bad happened. It is a collection of things and I am not going to try to explain it all because most of it doesn’t make sense.

It is why I search for the write words because life doesn’t make sense, but then again it doesn’t have to.

What matters is that you never forget there are more good people than bad and more hope than horror. What matters is that you find the people that fill your heart with happiness and your soul with delight because when the dark times come you’ll hold hands and find your way out together.

People matter.

You matter.

We matter.

I love you very much.

-Dad

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41 Comments

  1. Aman March 8, 2014 at 10:32 pm

    Dear author it is really a wonderful article. Thanks for this article, i just loved this.

  2. Hajra January 9, 2013 at 9:43 am

    I am not a parent but this moved me so much. Your kids will love you so much more when they read this ten years from now.

  3. Bev December 23, 2012 at 3:13 am

    Words of wisdom Jack. Well said.

  4. Michelle Longo December 20, 2012 at 3:56 pm

    Beautiful post. So much truth in it.

  5. Larks December 20, 2012 at 1:51 pm

    What a beautiful post! So right on.

  6. Mod Mom Beyond IndieDom December 20, 2012 at 11:51 am

    Such a gorgeous, heartfelt and moving post. How right you are.

  7. Angela Ryan December 20, 2012 at 10:59 am

    This is a beautiful, heartfelt letter. Maybe “I love you” is all any of us really need to say to one another during this tragedy rather than struggling and beating ourselves up trying to find the right words. They’re right there: I love you. We all could use a little more love these days. Great post!

    • Jack December 21, 2012 at 1:11 am

      Hi Angela,

      Those three words make a huge difference. I think they are a big part of helping to keep hope alive and that is a big part of making things work.

  8. Lindsey December 20, 2012 at 7:08 am

    Beautiful. I think it is important that we say things like this to our kids because our voice becomes their inner voice.

  9. Joe December 20, 2012 at 6:55 am

    A very poignant post, Jack. Thanks for sharing more about your grandfather. They were great men, our grandfathers…

  10. Kathleen December 20, 2012 at 5:50 am

    This was just beautiful and made me tear up. I love your message to your kids. You sound like a great father. Happy holidays!

    P.S. This paragraph really got to me. Right on! We have to keep the hope alive.

    “What matters is that you never forget there are more good people than bad and more hope than horror. What matters is that you find the people that fill your heart with happiness and your with delight because when the dark times come you’ll hold hands and find your way out together.”

    • Jack December 21, 2012 at 12:58 am

      Hi Kathleen,

      Happy Holidays to you too! I am like every other parent, just trying to do the best I can to make things work for the family.

      Hope is what makes it possible for us to keep going even when things are rough- I really believe in it. If I can convince the kids to never let go of it I think their lives will be better for it.

  11. Ginny Marie December 20, 2012 at 5:26 am

    I could relate to each and every one of those moments. Those moments are what makes life good. I remember the last time I saw my grandparents dance. It was at my wedding.

    Love this.

  12. Azara December 19, 2012 at 10:47 pm

    I love this: “when the dark times come you’ll hold hands and find your way out together.” I’m planning to write letters to my children over the holidays too. If anything happens to me, I want them to know how much I love them.

    • Jack December 20, 2012 at 1:41 am

      Hi Azara,

      The letters are awesome. I hope you enjoy writing them as much as I have enjoyed writing mine. I am biased, but I think it makes a great gift for our kids.

  13. BloggerFather December 19, 2012 at 1:38 pm

    Yep… I hope I don’t have to explain what happened to my 5yo, but I might. And if not now, then I’ll have to explain the next evil. We have to concentrate on the good, or evil wins.

  14. Dani Ryan December 19, 2012 at 12:46 pm

    Awesome letter.

    My Grandparents died last year within 3 months of each other. We all thought my Grandma would rally, but I can say for certain she died of a broken heart.

    I hope The Hubs and I are just as lucky to live until we’re in our 90s and die so close together…

  15. Kyle December 19, 2012 at 11:42 am

    More good people than bad. What a great thing to remember, especially this time of year. Beautiful post.

  16. christina December 19, 2012 at 8:31 am

    awesome. and lovely. and so right on. i’ve never seen the video and i don’t have volume, but i couldn’t stop watching.
    thanks for sharing this.

  17. Bee December 19, 2012 at 7:19 am

    What a great message to send to your kids.

  18. Stacie December 19, 2012 at 6:50 am

    Love love love this letter! Such an important message.

  19. Samantha Brinn Merel December 19, 2012 at 6:27 am

    This is a beautiful letter. I love thinking about your grandparents at their 75th wedding anniversary. Amazing indeed.

  20. Phil Aguilar December 19, 2012 at 12:20 am

    Great post Jack! I have had many great moments in my life and without a doubt they overshadow the bad ones. Life is a journey. Enjoy it right where you are.

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