Take 60 Minutes

Dads, this one’s for you. It’s important. It’s powerful. And the message is very simple:

Every child longs to know that their dad loves them and is proud of them.

Every child.

Your child.

Male or female, young or old, successful or struggling. It matters more than you can imagine.

Recently, I had an illuminating exchange with Chris Wallace, the host of Fox News Sunday.  Chris was genetically predisposed to the news business as the son of the late Mike Wallace, lead reporter on 60 Minutes for nearly 40 years.Not only is Chris a terrific reporter with a delightful dry wit, he’s an amazingly gracious guy.

Chris was candid about the importance of having words of affirmation from his own dad:

 “I interviewed my father some 8 years before he died.  At the end of the interview, he said, ‘I love you.  And I’m proud of you.’ It’s not a letter, but I can’t tell you how much peace it gives me to be able to watch the interview from time to time.”

Having a lasting reminder of a parent’s love matters. 

Dads, what if today were your last? Would your children have anything tangible as an expression of your love for them and your belief in them?

We’ve all lived long enough to know that life is uncertain. Planes crash, heart attacks happen, tragedies occur. Perhaps you’ll be blessed to live to 100. And perhaps you won’t.

No matter what age you depart from this earth, your words of affirmation will make a difference in your child’s life today and for the rest of their lives. 

Putting those words in writing provides a tangible reference point. On a hard day when the rest of the world has said “you’re a loser” to your child, having something from you to read and re-read is a reminder that they matter. That they have special gifts and talents.That they are here for a purpose and can make a difference with their life.

And even if the rest of the world heaps accolades on your child, there’s something in each of us that longs to know that our dad is cheering us on.

What’s on your to-do list for this weekend? Football, some errands, perhaps a trip to Home Depot? Lots of important things, undoubtedly. But nothing is more important than taking a few minutes to write to your children.

The task may seem daunting. Don’t let the excuses of  “I don’t know where to start” or “that’s a lot of letters” stop you. What if you started allocating just one hour each week to writing letters to those whom you love? You’d be finished in no time. 

Please spend 60 minutes this weekend. The clock is ticking.