Lyle's Love Letter to Hannah

As you have read previously, Hannah turned 13 last weekend. Now that she has been getting "boy crazy", we decided it was time for the RING. The purity ring from her daddy. We didn't get her the typical purity ring because they were all cheesy looking. We found her one that she would love to wear until she's a woman. Pictures will come later, as Lyle will be giving it to her today at her party. But I wanted to share the letter he wrote to her to go with the ring. I thought he did an awesome job.



Hannah,

Well, you’re thirteen. And things are starting to change. My little girl is turning into a young woman; whether I want this to happen or not. The adolescent thoughts of your youth have given over to make-up, hair dryers, music and, gulp, boys. It is very humorous to think that my own gender has become my enemy. Now, you and boys and the mixing of you and boys are constantly on my heart.

I have a question slash request slash deal to ask of you. That question will come later; let’s build the suspense first.

God gave you to me. You are a gift. You are special and have value. There is no one else on this earth like you. Psalms says “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” God had you on His mind when He made you.

God has laid a wonderful and fearful task on me. I am to raise, protect, nourish, educate, correct and love……you. You have been given to me, for a short time, as a gift. You are a gift to cherish. And because I cherish you, I am weary of lending that gift to anyone else; including “the boys.” Unfortunately I know that I will someday be forced to release my gift to another man.

For now, you are mine. For now I refuse to share you with anyone else. For now I want to be the only man in your life. Our God is a selfish God. He wants us to want none other than Him. I feel the same about you. I want you to know that until you are married, I will not share you and I ask that you not lend yourself to another until that time. I am asking for purity.

Purity is a big word and means quite a bit. Purity is a righteous heart that is blameless before God. Purity is a clear conscience knowing of one’s fate. Purity is also not allowing your body to fall into sin. This purity entails not giving yourself to another man until you are married. God demands this purity as do I. God has given a special bond to men and women that is not to be shared until marriage.

Now for the question slash request slash deal:

I promise to love you unconditionally. I promise to be a constant in your life that will never leave you. I promise to be the example of the man you will choose to live the rest of your life with. Will you promise to stay true to God and myself, and save yourself for marriage? That’s the deal. I will stay true to you, you stay true to me. God promises never to leave us; I make the same promise to you. Save yourself and make a pure gift to your husband to be. That is my request.

Finally, I love you. In all its simplest form, I love you. No games or tricks. You need to do nothing to have my love. It is yours.


With all my heart,