by DJ Triplett

Created on: December 06, 2008

So many times, in the busy moments of life, we fail to appreciate the true gifts given. Moments thought precious become hours, hours become days, and days become years. Reflections become mirrors through which we view our lives, and when everything else in life may seem to have gone wrong, it is the unconditional love that we show our children that keeps them and us strong through times, tough or tender.

We have come to understand the true meaning of love, of unconditional approval and guiding hands, and while we never quite "master" the art of raising a child, we learn to give the same slow-to-anger response that God regularly gives each of us, and we hope that our children have built into them equal amounts of fond memories of their parents, as they have given us.

From the moment he came into this world, our world, his father and I have been blessed. He is a brilliant star, with a beauty equal to the sky's own reflection. So, I thought it deserving to say "I love you" to my son... Again.

Your father and I have always been so proud that you came into our lives. Perhaps it was too large a responsibility for God to have placed such an important gift into the hands and hearts of only simple parents, but there you were, and here you are.

With limited knowledge of how to raise such a gifted son, we did all that we could, and there were disagreements along the way.

Each child ultimately becomes their own person, taking with them whatever pieces from their parents, putting together and molding themselves into what it is that they become. We tried to give you the best pieces to use.

Like sand, many grains fall from one's grip, and others stick. That which is discolored shall be brushed aside, so the child can pick what to keep, and what to throw away, and learns from memories of their parent's mistakes.

To stop the sand from falling is impossible - to shed a tear that you missed it is noble, to be able to look at it, consider what it means and how it might have been different had you picked other grains is to reflect on what may have been.

To stand still and do nothing while the grains fall is harmful. In stillness we cannot grow or move, and we are then left behind while other grains of our lives rush past, and we've missed not just the past; its soon all we have.

For our mistakes, we are sorry. But you've become such a wonderful man, son, that we know you picked thoughtfully, and for this, we are grateful.

We love you, son. Mom and dad.

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