Children’s children are a crown to the aged
Proverbs 17:6
Now that my 19-year-old has been away at College for 2 months, I decided to re-organize his room a bit. (Don’t worry, he gave me permission) I mostly found myself sifting through stacks of old papers and notebooks from his High School days, saved because of the time invested in them… but sadly never to be looked at again. Today, I stumbled upon a manilla envelope filled with letters he received from friends and family during his Senior Retreat; exactly one year ago. I fought back the temptation to carefully open it and read them ALL! Instead, I marveled at the thickness and weight of the large envelope and decided to take solace in knowing my son is loved and cherished by many.
As I worked my way over to his nightstand, I opened the top drawer to find one letter separated from the others. I wondered why he might want to keep this one closer and more easily accessible. The temptation was just too great, so this one I unfolded …
I knew immediately from the handwriting it was from my dad, Blake’s Papa. Tears weld up in my eyes, as a flood of emotions surfaced. Last year when I collected these letters for his retreat, my mom shared with me, “After years of having your dad just sign his name to cards and letters I insisted, he write his own.” So, I guess he did – and (as if further proof were needed) it was written on an upside down piece of notebook paper…that is so my Dad.
If you’ve ever had the privilege of knowing my dad, the handwriting may be familiar but the heartfelt sentiments are a rare treasure to be found. Below is what this letter read…
Blake
These are things I love to remember
I remember building the Treehouse in the driveway in front of the garage and you saying, “Papa who is this for.” I said that it’s for you and we are putting it up in that Tree. You held my hand and said, “Ank you Papa”.
You loved pirates so we would go to my workshop and make wooden swords and then go up in the Treehouse and color them with crayons. Whenever you came over to visit your first stop was the Treehouse to see if Papa had drawn any new Disney characters on the walls.
We would play baseball in the backyard and you would hit the ball over the roof and down the front street. We had to give you a softer bat, we were running out of balls.
Thank you Blake for these and many more memories we have shared. I know as you go off to College you will have many friends and share many memories…I just hope they will be as wonderful as mine.
Love you Blake
Papa
Three months after writing this special note to his grandson, my dad passed away. I imagine this letter found it’s way to the nightstand somewhere around that time.
Blake was my dad’s very first Grandchild and was the one who deemed him “Papa”, for all future grandchildren to follow suit.
Oh how I loved watching this Strong, Wise, and Set-in-his-ways-man live up to this given name. He matched my son’s child-like excitement with every moment they spent together. While I wish our time with him had been longer, I’m so grateful to know that he left this world with such treasured memories in the forefront of his mind. And that those memories were imprinted and set apart as something special to a boy who grew up to become an amazing man, as a result of his Papa’s love.
It’s Real to Me 
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