Why You’re Important

Dear Daughter,

When you turned and walked the opposite direction on the sidewalk, my heart hurt. We climbed in the van to head for home, and you walked slow to your dorm room.

For a full hour I tried to have mercy on the boys and not cry, but it took a lot of lip biting and blinking hard.

Because you do this one thing for us that we need. You live.

Sometimes you look all around and wonder what’s special about you. What beauty do you have. What gift do you have. What special something do you have.

Here’s what it is: You breathe.

You fill a room with life. 

And I know this is true, because when I walk by your empty bedroom it is not a beauty or a gift or a something special that I miss –it’s just you and the fact that your cheeks are warm and your eyes look back and your hands move in a way that is a steady heartbeat in our world.

The most important thing you will do this week isn’t to go to college or to work on a degree or to do anything amazing –it’s just to be alive.

“The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7 NIV)

You’re important because of the Breath in your lungs.

Goodness, love, patience, kindness. You bring these into every space.

A room needs you.

Love, Mom.

(Sniff.)