'I Notice' - A letter of encouragement

Babe,

I just wanted to say that I truly appreciate you.

I notice you day in and day out trying to make a difference in your world and the people around you.

I notice you endlessly encounter and stay involved in your children's lives.

I notice you take calls from your friends in need and offer them almost anything that you have that is available to give -- computers, finances, lending of your car.

I notice you get up 6 days a week to go to work and the other day you could be getting up early to either drop off or pick up your daughters or help a friend in need.

I notice you hold down 2 jobs so that your daughters do not go without and that your commitments are met to your best ability.

I notice you take calls from your daughters whenever they need you or even when they don’t.

I notice you continuously tell your daughters that you love them every time before you get off the phone with them.

I notice you try your best to get along with their mother for the sake of your children.

I notice you constantly say positive things about your girls and not only to others but you also tell them.

I notice you call them, just to drop by if you have spare time.

I notice you will go out of the house at 11 PM to go and pick up your children from downtown and bring them back home.

I notice you bring them to movies, out to dinner, give them money for vacation spending, go to recitals, speak to them about personal issues, dating.

I notice you will see something you enjoy, like the race exhibit at Detroit's museum of African American history, and go back and pay again just because you think it is something your daughters will enjoy.

I notice you exchange photos, poems, movies, TV and listen to their music in your car to stay connected.

I notice you get up even earlier if they want to go to church with you, so that you have time to go and pick them up before your hour drive to Ohio.

I notice you joke around with your daughters. I notice you talk seriously to your daughters. I notice you listen, email, call, write, pick up, go see and do so much more.

"Involved parent" does not do justice to what you do as a divorced father, and I am proud of you and notice all of these things when I think of what kind of a man you are and aspire to be.

Just on the other side of discouragement is success. Most people give up; those who persevere at this time end up finding and doing amazing things in their lives.

I love you babe, and I notice.

By Cheryl Carvery
Printed with permission.

Why life is worth living

Every time I think about my daughters or spend time with them; every time I fall in love; every time I embrace a loving family member; every time I make a new friend; every time I experience the courtesy and kindness of others; every time I do something that brings joy to someone else; every time I see wonderful people living their dreams; every time I learn about people who beat the odds; every time I see different people taking incalculable delight in their diversity; every time I see ordinary people laying down their lives for extraordinary causes; every time I observe the progress being made in nations and communities throughout the world; every time a people rises and reaffirms its hope for humanity despite humanity's obvious challenges, contradictions, and shortcomings, I'm reminded of what's right about our world. And I remember, too, that life is worth the living because there's always a way for one to live it to the fullest.

iAMrj * richard jones