forgive me for applying a pseudo-letter here.  I hope your mom lets you read this but one way or the other I think Q is an excellent name–smacks of international espionage and such.

But that is not why I am writing.  I am writing because due to several rather LARGE DIFFICULT INTERVENING TRAGEDIES, I thought I had lost you and your whole beautiful family.  I had always wanted to be a very good __________ to you.  If your mama lets you read this you will know what word goes in the blank but for anyone else reading consider the mad libs! (beekeeper, ringleader, Oktoberfest organizer, primate handler…)

So it sounds like you are hitting a rough patch.  First let me say that I love you and think you have great potential.  Next let me say that the time of life you are in can feel like a real garbage dump outside the holy city, or put another way–the pits.  sometimes a body is inclined to do somethings like  1. kick the cat  2.  be mean to younger kids 3.  say rude things 4.  blame one’s parents.

Let’s start with the last thing for now:  one’s parents.  I had a great dad and I loved him very, very much, but he was not perfect (no sirrr–eee) and when I would feel a little down because my father tended to be a leetle too critical sometimes (he liked to catch a body doing something goofy and then correct them thoroughly).  Like if he were an English teacher he would correct me right now for using them instead of he or she.

Also. he was not very affectionate.  Kind, intelligent, loyal, truthful, adventerous on occasion, but not cuddly.  I needed a big-bear-i-love-you-dad.  Luckily I found Him.  Or He let me find Him, like divine hide and seek.  Over time I realized He was always there. waiting for me to ask the right question and that question was–

are You there?  are You real?

This is a question worth asking because once i realized He was there I also felt His great love.  You don’t wanna miss out on that.  God is the dad we need, we all secretly look for.

As another young friend of mine used to say–

our REAL Dad.

He’s the One who teaches us how to be.

love you kid,

E.