Dear Jeanie,
I read somewhere that "if you want to know where you are going, look at where you came from." I love this advice because it doesn't dictate where you are headed, but it engages the conversation between the pillars of who you are, how you were raised, and what you want out of life.
Over the past three months there have been many disappointing shocks to women's rights, education, environmental support, civil rights, and the opportunity for universal healthcare. Your father and I often feel like we have been blind-sided by the opinions of others we only assumed felt the same as we did. These issues are never solved and we don't expect them to be perfect. But we always assumed our friends and neighbors at least trusted and believed we were moving forward with good momentum towards common goals of equality, peace, and safety. We never even considered the potential of raising you and your brothers in an environment thats moving backwards... away from equality, away from environmental conservation, away from world peace.
So here we are. Trying to raise three forward-thinking children to LOVE others, SERVE others, VALUE equality, and value their environment. Its hard. Whenever your father and I wonder where we are going, we think about where we came from. We came from loving parents. People who respect all of those around them. Your G-Mommy, G-Diddy, Granny, and Pop-Pop ALL value service and continue to do so. They are the complete opposite of our president. They are overflowing with humanity. They care about others. They know how to put themselves in other's shoes. They exude compassion.
Your G-Diddy bravely served in Vietnam in North Korea. You G-mommy taught in public school over 20 years. They married on G-Diddy's leave...he returned to North Korea not long after they said "I do" to serve the country you have inherited.
Your Pop Pop grew up in rural Virginia, the oldest of four. Despite his contagious sense of humor, he has endured some tough times and handled it with the most resilience I have ever seen. Your Granny, who lost her own mother at a young age, made countless sacrifices to raise her own family. She raised two strong-willed, creative women who owe their successes to her devotion.
Jeanie, from the day you were born, SO MUCH LOVE has been poured into you. Your parents, Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and teachers. We pray that you take this love and do good things with it. Your father and I were discussing you lately and agreed that what we want the most for you is for you to confidently pursue whatever makes you happy.
So if you ever find yourself wondering where you come from--its love. Love God. Love yourself. Everything else falls into place.
Love,
Mom and Dad
For the good part... you sure know how to have fun.
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