A letter from you.

I spend a lot of time listening to people. I spent 30 years photographing weddings, listening to couples and watching family interactions. I’ve worked in youth ministry and youth leadership programs, run retreats, and honestly, I most enjoyed the Saturday afternoon chats with the group of kids that consistently came into the deli and sat at the table.

For 5.75 years I worked at that corner deli, and I only wish I could share the intense stories I started listening to from week one. I guess I have one of those invisible signs that says…tell me anything.

Here is the one thing that is ABSOLUTELY consistent…people need to know that their parent(s) are proud of them.

Even when they do stupid things.

Even when they mess up their lives.

So… while you don’t have to be proud of those mistakes or even bring them up…I’m sure there are one or two things you as their parent or spouse or friend…could honestly write about having a sense of pride for them in that characteristic.

It only takes one thing.

This doesn’t have to be fancy; it doesn’t have to be perfect penmanship…although handwriting it is actually MORE special than typing or putting something on a plaque like an award.

To this day I have my grandmother’s letters to me and some of my parents framed…just to see their handwriting and to know I have something they physically touched and made just for me.

Life is hard…growing up and becoming an adult is hard.

Video games and devices and new socks will all eventually get replaced…

Having visual evidence of your love and pride in them as a human…yeah…that’s priceless and can literally change the direction of their life from that moment forward…or be there when they are ready to change their life.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holiday Season to everyone.