Dear Kylie,
I will never forget the day we first met. When my eyes met yours, I was so happy that I was a Dad, that you were mine, and I had big plans! I was in love again for sure – a daughter as beautiful in and out as her mother. Since that day, the journey has been full and wonderful, but boy has it been fast. If I sit and think about all of our special moments that we likely will not experience again, my tears are hard to stop. There are so many treasured moments that as we experienced them, I took for granted that there would always be another opportunity to do it again. Now the time has come when you must leave to become one with another. The goodness of God in this is overwhelming. Never forget that it is the mercy and grace of God poured out on His chosen ones that has allowed us so much joy and fellowship within our family. It did not come cheap. Christ poured out on us, and lavished on us His grace, purchasing us with His own blood. He lived His life as one completely emptied of self with His face set towards the bloody cross so that we would be washed and holy and blameless before Him in love. Just as Adam and Eve helplessly received mercy and deliverance from death as they were promised a rescuer, and their shame was covered by the blood of a substitute representing the final deliverer, so Abel, Enoch, Noah, Isaac, Jacob, David, the prophets, Zacharias, Mary, Simeon, Anna, the disciples, and so we have been chosen from the foundation of the world to receive mercy and pardon by the blood of Christ. We are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets – Jesus Christ Himself being the “chief cornerstone”. God demonstrated it to you right from your conception by bringing you into a family who like Noah had been rescued from the world, placed in the Ark of Christ and are waiting for it to come to rest on the Mountain of God. Therefore you are to show mercy as you have been shown mercy, forgive as you have been forgiven, love as you have been loved, and keep your eyes on Jesus the author of your faith and the finisher of your faith. So, if our little story is only about good times, fun times, and now times that are missed, it is an inconsequential one that is but dust in the wind, a drop in the bucket, a speck on a scale, a vapor... It is “vanity of vanities”. But, if it is part of the plan of God laid before the foundation of the world to bring glory and praise to Himself, to redeem sinful rebels from every tongue, tribe, and nation, then we are part of something too wonderful for us to even ascribe words. There will never be height, or depth, or any created thing that can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Things will continue to change while here on our pilgrimage, while on the Ark during the storm, and while we are in this flesh which is like grass that quickly withers. God may grant you the same happiness that He has granted us and give to you many care-free days with a kind husband and a beautiful family. He may have a different plan. He may give you trial, suffering, sickness, and pain. But whatever His plan, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is a faithful Savior who will bring you safely home. If this world were our home, if this world was our only hope, my tears would not be able to stop for missing you as you leave now. But, I have joy now as you leave. You leave to be an example to Christ's sheep who have yet to hear His voice as you will demonstrate to them the obedience that Christ's bride willingly has toward her lover. You will be a visible representation of Christ's church who loves Him because He first loved us. Whatever God has planned for you is good. Do not trust in earthly riches, or even the riches of children that God may be pleased to give. Rather, love and trust the giver of good things so that if there is a day when you cannot see through the darkness, you will still know His presence and His promises and will wait patiently for that day when we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is. I love you more than words can tell.
Love,
Daddy