Dear child and family,

It is so lovely to hear about all you’re doing. All your activities, how you are going, what your hobbies are and the difference that I’m making to your life. Thank-you, it brightens my day.

But only today, because as much as I love you and want you to do well, my life is so busy, and I easily forget about you. You and I write our six letters a year, and I give you money so you can live and thrive. But really, I feel so far away.

I cannot love you the way I should, because love is being there for you and helping you through all of life’s struggles. The good, the bad and the ugly.

I don’t have the knowledge of how you live, what your school is like, what kind of things you do. I have a sense from your letters, but my knowledge of your world is so limited.

I have no presence in your day to day life, I’m not there with you. I don’t help you with your work, play games with you or tuck you safely into bed at night.

But I know who does.

God. He is always with you. He loves you so much more than I do. He has the best knowledge of you there is. And his presence will always be with you and keep you safe.

I will keep writing letters and sending you money, but I will never be able to love and hold you. I must leave that to God, my dear brother in Christ.