He hasn’t met her yet, but when he does he knows what she will mean in his life.
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So we aren’t even married yet. Honestly, I don’t know if you exist. I don’t know if I’ve even met you, but I wanted to write a letter to say thanks anyway. I’m writing this letter because I knew what I was waiting for and, if we’ve made that step, I know you deserve this gratitude. When they day comes, I’ll know, and I hope you read this letter over your morning coffee, knowing it was written for you.
You Have Patience
Thank you sweetheart. Thank you for having the patience to walk through a relationship with a once broken soul. As a single father, the dating world was completely different than the first time through. Where priorities first consisted of finding that person that made you smile and you could have a good time with, any thought of the “future” this time around required so much more. While I was pretty certain that would be hard to find, I was determined to wait until I did. You knew I had things to work on. You knew that behind my mask of confidence and humor, I had fears of accepting that what I truly wanted was out there. You have patience. Thank you.
You Are My Best Friend
Thank you for being my best friend. I knew that what I wanted was a true teammate; you and me against, or for, the world. Someone I could sit back with and laugh as we watch people in public. Someone I could share inside jokes with, brightest dreams and deepest fears, without ever, once, worrying that trust would be misused. We share failures and success with the zest that keeps us wanting more. You are my best friend. Thank you.
You Inspire Me
Thank you for being the one that helps me succeed. It’s not that I need you for me to be a better man, it’s that you inspire me to be a better man. It’s the little things, like showing faith in me, the pride you have standing beside me in a crowded room, even that annoying way you make me change what I’m wearing before an important event. You may not know it, but it’s those things that help fuel my desire to succeed. I aim to do the same for you, every chance I get. You inspire me. Thank you.
You Love My Children
Thank you for being a second mother to my children. It was important for me to show my kids that a true, healthy, loving relationship could exist. I knew my children would learn much of what they knew of love from me. After messing it up the first time around, I was determined to introduce nothing but the best to their lives. In you, I found a woman I could honor with love and affection, and them see the same returned to me. I wasn’t sure I could ever find someone that could appreciate and love my children the way that you do. You love my children. Thank you.
You Completed My Family
Thank you for allowing me into your life. Surely you had a family as well. You took a major step allowing me to step in and help with them. I am certain you would worry, as much as I, about who would be worthy to be a part of your beautiful life. You realized that, before anything, I was meant to be in a family. I was meant to care and provide, teach and encourage. I was meant to be part of a complete family. You completed my family. Thank you.
You Are Perfectly Imperfect
Again, I may or may not have met you yet, but I knew who you were the day I started to believe that a second chance was possible. I don’t know how long it took to run into you, how funny the story of our meeting will be or what the moment was when we both “knew”. The only thing I know is that, without you, I would have never taken this walk again. You see, I long ago realized that I am not perfect. I long ago realized that no one is perfect. Sure, you have moments when you aren’t at your best, we all do. You have moments where you need more than you can give, we all do. Those moments you are down only help illuminate the way you shine. The world is imperfect and I could have only hoped to find the one who could perfectly allow me to appreciate that. You are perfectly imperfect. Thank you.
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Photo: Flickr/Sigfrid Lundberg
Thank you for the encouraging words!
Christine
Wow! Your faith and love have inspired me to believe in my love again (whoever he is… lol). This was a gift. Thank you 🙂
I feel this way about a man I met after a terrible marriage that I have had the courage to end.
We’ll meet someday and when we do, it will be for keeps. I love you…
This made me tear up too. I’ve started seeing a divorced, single dad – my first boyfriend ever, actually. I don’t know if the above article is how he feels about me, but I know that those are things I’ve been very mindful of and am striving to be for him. I just want to be with him (and his son) and if that means taking a little more time with the fragile parts of his heart, then that’s okay. I feel so lucky to have him, no matter what.
I follow this site for articles like this one. The ones that give me hope that what I’m looking for is out there. The ones that show men possessing emotional depth (since after my list of failed relationships I like to pretend they don’t have.) I know I’m the real problem as I repeatedly try to shine up a horse turd to begin with. But these reminders, these glimpses of hope are what stand between me and investing in 65 cats from local shelters to comfort me into my dotage. And until I find men, or more so THE man… Read more »
As a single mom with two children myself, I want to say “Thank you”. Thank you for articulating exactly what has been in my head, heart and soul for several years since my own divorce and after doing some self-reflection. You have been able to describe what I (and I am sure many others) desire and more so, know that (s)he needs in a partnership that once wasn’t or hadn’t been present in previous relationships/marriages/partnerships, etc. In writing this “letter” you have shown what I find lately, to be rare in a person. So, again, I thank you for being… Read more »
Perfect response. I wholly agree. What she just said.
Perhaps one day I too will be this hopeful and optimistic. I want to be, but the wounds are still too fresh. It’s just me and my little girl now. It’s hard to see beyond that.
I hope you find what you’re looking for. You sound like a genuine and kind person. You deserve it.
Beautiful! She will appreciate this 🙂 Best wishes to you on your journey! I have my fingers crossed that you find her!
This made me tear up, but in a good way…it’s a very hopeful, beautifully written piece. 🙂
I have no idea where you live, but I would love to get to know you! I didn’t think guys like you existed anymore!
There are plenty of us out there, Julie. You too Amanda. You just need to look at the books beyond the covers, thats all. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find more of us who think and feel this way than you ever thought existed. For the record, my second wife was exactly like the woman described in the article. And, for the short time we had together (7 years) before she passed away, I found true love and happiness and tried to be everything I possibly could for her to make her feel loved, valued and above all, happy.… Read more »
I cannot …wait to meat you!
I am not a very good judge of character when it comes to men. I love men. I have had some wonderful friends that were men. I have been married 3 times and 2 ended in divorce and my current husband is in the final stage of Alzheimer’s. We have been together since 1991. We haven’t had sex since 2006. All of a sudden he had ZERO interest in me. He has not cheated and we have talked openly about the subject. He didn’t want sex because he was never really satisfied. He never cheated on me and now never… Read more »