Dear Dad

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Dear Dad:

I want to start off my letter series with someone very special to me–you. There has not been a day where you have not crossed my mind and honestly, you are the person that I have missed the most since I’ve left. I know we didn’t really say much to each other on the car ride to the airport, but I’m glad we didn’t because I was about 3 centimeters away from losing it and I cannot confirm or deny that I am feeling the same way right now.. Anyways, here we go.

You are so special to me and I am grateful for the important role you play in my life. Today is Thanksgiving and I have to say that I am so thankful to have you to call MY Dad. I think my heart grows more and more for you everyday. I am exposed to the goodness in your heart often, whether you think it is there or not.

There are so many characteristics that I carry that match your character and there are so many characteristics that you carry that match God’s character, and I want to share that with you. There are these things called the fruit of the spirit and I believe that you live them out daily. They are: Love, Joy, Peace, Faithfulness, Kindness, Patience, Gentleness.

I am going to start with faithfulness because you are a faithful man. The time, heart and love that you have poured into my, Austin and Jake’s athletic careers has been my favorite part of spending time with you. I feel like that was and, for Jake, is the best way to take what you are teaching us and be successful with it. I love how much you have loved to coach us, other kids, and advocate for the kids who maybe aren’t the best but are worthy of the beautiful experience of the game. You are a faithful husband to Mom and for that I am so grateful. I love that I am able to learn how a man should love and treat a woman from you. I love how much you love her and how you still call her your best friend. She is so blessed to have you forever. 

The next is Joy, I don’t ever hear you complain about anything and I admire that about you. You are quick to forgive and even quicker to love, and you do so joyfully. Thanks for being such a great example of that. My favorite memory of your Joy is the picture above (even though I wasn’t there). Either someone made you laugh or you were nervous to choke back those two shots that you’re double fisting. (LOL) Either way, your smile is radiant and that’s my favorite picture of you because that’s how I picture you all the time. 

PEACE, you are a man who fights for peace. An example of this is how you choose to treat my Dad, Patrick. You have been so kind to him and have always had respect for him. You have never bad mouthed him, but you have encouraged me to love and treat him right. Because you have modeled this for me, I have been able to freely grow my relationship with him and learn how to love him. Thank you for making sure that peace always abides in our home and in my life. You are like Jesus in this way because you sow peace into the lives of our immediate family and to my immediate family, there is a great harvest for that. (James 3:18)

This one will overlap with the first paragraph on Faithfulness, and it is Kindness. I love how kind you are to your family and friends, but my favorite example of your kindness is when you are coaching. Like I’ve said before, you advocate for the kids who aren’t as skilled in baseball and you encourage them. I love that you do this, it shows how much you care about building them up as people and not just as athletes. You are the coach that athletes remember and appreciate in life. You are like Jesus in this way because you care for the “the least of these”. You may not understand what that means, so I encourage you to talk to Grandma Sylvia about it because I know that she would love to explain it to you. (Matthew 25:40)

Patience is probably something that you don’t think that you have, but I definitely know that you do because you have ALWAYS been patient with me. I was NOT an easy kid but you still loved me, you still coached me, you still cared about me, you still stayed with mom, and you never left because of my attitude. You have always been patient with me and the best example of this is when you and I are talking, just the two of us. You are always calm with me and show me grace. You try to hear me out and understand me, even if I’ve been a witch to you. Thank you for being patient with me. You are like Jesus in this way because He is always patient with us, He is slow to anger, quick to listen, and slow to speak. (James 1:19)

Now, Gentleness, this jazz is hard but you make it look so easy. Remember when you taught me about “Finesse” in softball because I for some reason thought I had to throw 700 mph when I was 30 ft away from someone? Well, not only do you teach me that on the field but that translates off the field as well. Dad, you are so gentle with Jake, Austin, and I. You are tender hearted toward us and although you don’t always show it up front, I can always see it in your eyes. I especially see it when you’re apologetic about something. Like Jesus, you have been gentle when you lovingly correct us. (Proverbs 15:1)

I am going to end this with Love, because this is the one that really gets me crying in the club, ok? You love me unlike anyone has loved me, other than The Lord. Like Jesus, you have called me your daughter. Like Jesus, you have chosen me to be apart of your family. Like Jesus you have invited me to sit at your table and have joyfully shared a meal with me. Like Jesus, you have taught me how to live honorably and be a leader. Like Jesus, you have fought for me. Like Jesus, you have pursued me. Like Jesus, you have guided me safely in life. Like Jesus, you have protected me. Like Jesus, you walk with me and like Jesus, you love me. Dad, you are a wonderful example of God and I am able to learn from you exactly how much my heavenly Father loves me. Thank you for being who you are and for being my Dad. 

You love our family the way you do because of how much Jesus loves you and if you don’t know how true that is or what it even means, ask Grandma Sylvia. (1 John 4:19)

I am honored to be your daughter. 

I love you.

– Moronales