Clearing Customs

Following is an open letter my wife and I wrote to all parents who give so much to their children who are missionaries. We wrote it several years ago, while we were serving in Taiwan.

Dear Mom and Dad:

Thank you for raising us to know about God and his love for the world.

Thank you for letting us go without letting go of us.

Thank you for forgiving late birthday cards.

Thank you for praying for us.

Thank you for giving up time with your grandchildren.

Thank you for your e-mails and letters and calls.

Thank  you for sending Barbie Dolls, Tic Tacs, Koolaid, socks, Reader’s Digests, and Lucky Charms cereal.

Thank you for your questions about our new home and work.

Thank you for being patient and understanding when we tell you how exciting it is to live in another part of the world.

Thank you for being patient and understanding when, two days later, we complain about living in that same place.

Thank you for not making us feel selfish for wanting to go.  Sometimes we feel that way on our own.

Thank you for listening to our stories about people you’ll never meet with names you can’t pronounce.

Thank you for being our ambassadors.

Thank you for sending clippings from our hometown newspaper.

Thank you for telling us about our neighbors, classmates, and cousins—all the stories that don’t make the news.

Thank you for letting our brothers and sisters stand in for us when we’re too far away to do our part in the family.  (They really should get their own letter.)

Thank you for loving us.

Thank you for trusting Jesus to take care of us when you can’t.

Thank you for being proud of us.  We are proud of you.

We chose to be a missionary family, not you, and we understand that our move has meant many sacrifices for you.  You are not only a part of our family but an invaluable part of our team.

With all our love,

Your children

[photo: “leaving us,” by Petras Gagilas, used under a Creative Commons license]

Tagged: Craig Thompson, expatriates, mom and dad, parents of missionaries

§ 5 Responses to Mom and Dad, Thanks for Letting Us Go without Letting Go of Us

• Donna Amis Davis says:

  June 19, 2012 at 00:58

  Very true. Lovely thoughts. Glad your parents were so supportive of your family!

  Reply
  • Craig says:

    June 19, 2012 at 20:50

    Thanks, Donna. It wasn’t always easy for kids, parents, or grandparents, but we were blessed.

    Reply
    • Donna Amis Davis says:

      June 19, 2012 at 21:17

      We are on the other side of the fence now – we’re in the Philippines missing our grandkids back in the U.S. It makes us realize what they all gave up to let us come here.

      Reply
• Anonymous says:

  May 30, 2017 at 09:09

  I, m so happy to be parent of children who have learned to serve the Lord. As I have said before, you have stepped in where we were called.
  We are also happy that your brothers are aware of work you are in. I just pray that we will all be able to see your father and praise the Lord all togethter!,,
  Love,
  Mother.

  Reply
  • Craig Thompson says:

    May 30, 2017 at 20:25

    Thank you for continuing the conversation. Blessings.

    Reply

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