Dad,

I want to thank you for always being there. I am never good with expressing how I feel through words, so the best option for me would be through typing them out. Ever since I moved for college, many people ask me what it is like to have a pastor as a dad. They usually bring out different stereotypes, such as, “was he really strict?” or “wow how did you do it?” I always laugh when they ask me these questions because I usually give them a different answer than what they are expecting.

I always start off by telling them that you are super funny. This usually throws them off guard because they try to wrap their minds around how a pastor could be funny. Usually, they think all you do is read your Bible and live in a cave. They find it amazing how you like rock music from the 70s and, how on occasion, you like my music. I also tell them that you like action movies and are a bit of a romantic. They can’t seem to comprehend that a pastor would cry while watching "The Notebook," but I know you.

They also ask me if you would ever let me do "anything." I assume they think that you lock me in a tower and only let me out for Sunday service and school. I tell them how you would let me hang out with my friends all of the time, and how you would even let me stay out past 10:00 on a school night, or would take me to the movies past midnight to see a PG-13 film. This blows their minds.

They have this perception of me that I am one of those preacher’s daughters, which as soon as they leave the house they get any and all tattoos and piercings that they want, but I can’t stand needles and can’t handle the pain of a splinter. They asked if our household was strict and I have to explain to them that you let me make my own decisions and mistakes, even if it affected you in the end.

So I am writing this letter to thank you. You have always been there for me to talk, even when you are the last person I would want to talk to. You are patient with me when I get into my moods and are always there to listen when I have a problem. When I would tell you that I did something bad, you would never judge me but would listen and try to give me the best advice you could. I can always count on you to be there for me, even when I may ditch you to hang out with my friends. I may not tell you this enough, but I love you. I hope this letter shows you how much you mean to me.

Love, Your Daughter