A heart-felt letter from my daughter is worth more to me than any material gift.

My daughter Betsy has created a wonderful tradition. Every year, she writes a letter to me on my birthday. It started before she could write—her mother penned her first words—and added them to a blank book she found at the Hallmark store. Eventually Betsy was able to write down her own thoughts. Her words and letters were charmingly simple in the early years. But her feelings were always honest and heartfelt. So this year, as a seventeen-year-old, her words were more meaningful than ever:

Betsy admitted that her calligraphic ‘Father’ script was something she saw on a Pinterest page. But all of her sentiments are hers alone.

Speaking for all fathers of teenagers, sometimes the best we can hope for is just to be appreciated. Parents make mistakes sometimes, and as a dad I realize that at times I can be overly critical or simply oblivious to the issues my daughter faces day-to-day. But we never stop trying. I am grateful to have a daughter who is not only a kind and thoughtful person, but able to see past my foibles as a human being. It speaks well of the young woman she has become.

Also, I am hopeful for the future of the next generation when I see my daughter’s beautiful handwriting—in this age of technology when letter writing and penmanship is almost a lost art. Betsy has once again restored my faith in humanity.

I am a very fortunate man to have such an amazing daughter.