Save The World
Dear Sohaila,
Last night when mommy and I got home from Waffle House we were exhausted. That means really tired.
We talked about our hopes and dreams. We talked about changing the world.
I kept asking her what you would think? What you would say in 15 years about your daddy’s attempt to save the world?
We talked and we talked. Mommy even cried a few times.
It was my fault. Don’t worry.
So when we got home we paid the babysitter and walked upstairs to go to bed. I was tired. I was ready to spread out on my California King and feel the coolness of the other side of the pillow.
And there you 2 were. You and Seanna dead asleep in our bed.
The thing you don’t know is that mommy and I turned to each other and smiled.
We slid in bed, her next to Seanna and me next to you.
We didn’t say a word.
Before I got in I said, “Watch this”
And with the strength of a magnet to a fridge you rolled right over.
Dead asleep.
Your tiny butt fit right in my gut.
Seanna rolled like clockwork into mommy.
I smiled at mommy.
I whispered in your ear that Daddy loves you and you nodded quietly.
I smelled your 6 year old hair that still had scent of your school lunchroom.
I kissed your pasty white forehead which has still only been kissed my one man.
I held you tighter than you wanted, you gave me a quick heel to the thigh.
I started thinking about saving the world again.
For you.
Then it hit me.
The only world you want me to save is yours.
Dad
That's awesome. I can't wait to have my own. Keep writing these!
Beautiful man! I have 4yr old and 2yr old daughters. Thanks for sharing this sweet moment!
you're welcome. We are tracking right together.
You're not gonna make me cry at work, Carlos. Nice try.
liar.
Very very true Carlos! After God and our spouses our children are our next main priority. What good is it if we save the world but lose our children in the process . . .
Dude…(the sound of speechless silence)
speechless. Not fair! (grin)
Single tear running down my cheek.
I decided to catch up on some posts before leaving work. I'm glad I did. This brought tears to my eyes. It's inspiring to see your heart-felt parenting.
Iffin you need an accomplice, you know where to find me.
Bro you made my cry!! I wanna be a Papa like you in the future! Blessings to you and your family!
Ahhhh Daddy love….There's nothing like it!
Wow! That's the Los we've been waiting for. Thanks amigo! Every morning I see my little David's adoring toothless smile staring at me I realize how important our calling to parenthood is. I know we are called to the world and to go where Christ hasn't been preached before, but I wonder what would happen to the Church if we focused our missionary/ministerial efforts more towards our own families… not in a preachy kind a way, but in the kind and loving way you just described.
You are the cats pajamas!!!
beautiful
Well written, we just found out my wife has a "bun in the oven". Im praying for a BOY, you made me envy having a girl. SHHHHH, do let anyone else know I said that!
I love when my kids cuddle with me too! It is the most amazing thing to be trusted and to bring refuge like that!!
I think I have something in my eye ::sniff::
Dude so true.
Last night could have been the worst night with my kids, or the best.
They screamed for 2 hours about the idea of sleeping, so I grabbed them both and laid in my bed with them.
An hour later the three of us were asleep and their worlds were at peace.
I'm learning its not about me in this world and I need to just let it go.
Thanks for this.
Thought I had my own thoughts all put together, then as soon as my fingers hit the first key, I lost it. You make me wish my 22 year old would curl up against me one more time. Wasn't ready for that rush of emotions! You are makin' the girls cry, Los!! Just what you always wanted!
Just wait. If you save the world now, how will they keep learning? My Baylor senior told me just today: "I don't want to graduate, it's too expensive". I did say Baylor, right? And she's worried about how much announcements cost! What's a mother to do? Need a marketing major in Atlanta? She loves events planning. (j/k).
Save the world, just leave a little for the kids to tackle. They need the experience for themselves.
And quit makin' me cry! I'm too old for this crap.
Oh Los, from a girl who did not have a daddy like you…keep loving your daughters and son like you do…it is beautiful and they will be better for it…you make a huge difference in their life by loving them the way you do and by trying to save the world
Beautiful, beautiful post.
every little girl should have a daddy like you. i did, and i always felt safe and loved.
I can't wait for you to get home to see what she said to day about just this! Well she does not remember last night, but the fact that you are more cuddly than me!
I'm a mess.
That was beautiful
And right.
And healthy.
And the way it should be.
In every home.
This was a good happy cry.. thank you! Oh and welcome, back. You were missed!
Please don't do these posts during office hours in Australia. Explaining the tear on my cheek gets very difficult.
Seriously though – thank you
Oye, I really don't like crying on Wednesday nights. Stop this tugging at my heartstrings, etc.
It's a GOOD thing I can't access this from work, or everyone would have seen me tear up…thanks for posting this moment of beauty.
You'll never be the same.
Beautifully written my good sir…just had a little girl last tuesday…needless to say I can't wait for moments like this…Even only after one week of her being hear…I already wonder what she'll think of me…and you said it great!!!
Something so personal & so moving. I am reduced to tears. Thanks for sharing.
Aww I loved this! I never understood what people meant when they said "you never know love until you have a child" until 6 months ago when I had one of my own. My daugther is my world and I feel so undeserving of this precious gift He has given me. Thank you for this post!
I love these daddy posts! They are so precious
Makes me excited to one day have family and marry a man that is in love with the Lord so much that it oozes to his family!! Thanks so much!
freaking awesome – i love this man!
This is why you have to keep blogging. Because of posts like this. If I do nothing else right in my life – I want to be the best mom I can be. Absolutely nothing else matters in my life if I can't look into their eyes and know I gave it every drop I had (and then some). You and your wife rock.
Ok.. after an emotional day, that totally made me cry. So precious! And glad you're back!
DId you write this to absolutely bring me to tears? Because if so, it worked!
And this is why I read your blog, glad you’re back!
Oh stars, I am a mess now. Makes me want to go climb in bed with my littles. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks. Just picked up this thread from @human3rror (thanks by the way) and loved this post. I'm in.
.And… cue the cry-fest! Every kid deserves a dad like you.
i love those moments.they are timeless.
That was beautiful, Carlos.
Thanks for the tearjerker, homey!
wow. from a grown up girl who wishes she had memories of childhood moments like this… KEEP IT UP. this is awesome & so so freaking important.
wow… speechless. very touched. thanks for sharing :")
That was awesome.
There is no better reward nor a better job than being daddy.
Sweeet, Makes me think of my little Stephen and how I would do anything for him.
Nice Dude
My second is due anytime and it is these moments with my first that remind me that it is all worth the trials of teh first few months (but I loved those months aswell – Parenting is a funny game). 
I've clearly been a Ragamuffin reader for too long because I read to the very end with eager anticipation awaiting the first mention of a Dutch oven…
my girl has turned me into a softy too. i cant help but wonder, how many people are saying the same thing. at least one day they will say, "why didnt you save my world?"
do you think there are people among us, that unless I "save their world", they are screwed?
Nice Job Dad.
Tear jerker !
Thank you! We have one boy and I have always told my wife that I was "afraid" of girls! But now we will be adopting a little girl who is due to enter this world at the end of May! I can't wait!
dood.. good stuff.. i wish i was a daddy. i try to be the best uncle and "uncle" i can be. i love children! thanks for giving me a picture of what it could be…
sniff, sniff…single tear rolls down my cheek.
2 1/2 year old girl and another on the way in July. Those are the moments that make fatherhood something to long for. And when you're there, something to hold on to with all you've got.
Big tears in my eyes right now! Beautiful letter Carlos. There is nothing like a father/daughter relationship. As Sohaila gets older these are the things she will cherish the most. I have one hand written letter from my daddy that I still pick up and read every now and then. Very speical!
Ok….that REALLY made me cry. I have a 1st grader and this is very close to my heart. What a tender, lovely letter to your daughter. You are a brilliant writer and your heart is so good. It's so hard keeping the perfect balance in our lives. We try to be good people and good parents and good spouses and good employees. It is a constant correction at all times to "right" ourselves. Your children know that you love them and will someday be able to appreciate everything you are doing to make this world a better place. So glad you are back, los! Thanks for inspiring me today! I forwarded your letter to so many people and they are all responding back with gratitude. Have a BEAUTIFUL day!
i have a 4 month old and i love this letter, maybe i should abigail a letter too
that was so stinkin cute. that's what I'm talking about!!
A. MAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beautifully written. Makes me want to be a father. Glad to have you back.
Ditto – I love stories like this and I hate stories like this because they make me cry – all at the same time – my dad walked out when I was four – and yet I know, and know and know, that God filled that role for me above and beyond.
Excellent piece. I loved it.
Through all my years as a single mother of 4 I considered it my God given responsibilty to save their worlds. I didn't serve in church because I felt my love and energy should all go to them. Looking back I can say at times I feel like I was wrong I could have been a better example but God has worked that out …I am super proud of my girls and their hearts for the Lord I know that my son is in His hands and still a work in progress. My main point is that only God can save the world and the best we can do is be an open empty and available vessel for Him to use for His glory in the process. You and Heather are just that at home and elsewhere…I am sure He smiles often………
I have to say that my son talks about how I have the cuddle thing down, and the part Carlos wrote about her "little butt fitting into his gutt",…. it made me think of when Eddie was a little boy and when I would spoon him like that. Now, when I get the chance Logan is my cuddle buddy. I wish they wouldn't grow up so fast….
I love these posts, Los. What perspective. You know, I'm w/ you – I've got an 8, 6, 4 (almost 5) and 2 … and I can so easily lose focus in my efforts to 'lead' and 'create' that I have nothing left for them. That's the biggest crime ever. And dude, I feel ya – Andrew (my 2-yr old) climbed into the sack with us around 5:00 AM … and it was sooooo good!
Save this for her wedding. Give this to the man that will marry her. Tell him it's his turn now.
He.
Will.
Melt.
And so will you.
I wish that I could so readily capture my feelings for my kids like you have here. Thanks for sharing and it is indeed good to have you back.
So good to have you back, Los.
So true…I have 4 kids (soon to be 5) and only the middle one is a girl. The boys changed my life…my daughter remixed it, yanked my heart out, and wrapped it around her little finger. God gave girls an automatic kill switch for Fathers that render us useless…
And I wouldn't have it any other way.!
I obviously love my entire family all the same, but there's something about when Haleigh comes up and gives me a hug when I get home and looks at me with her giant blue eyes and says, "I love you, Daddy!" It just makes the the world a peaceful place.
rip my heart freakin' out. beautiful, man. thank you once again on behalf of all women, for being good to your girls.
Los…it's the weirdest thing. I was reading this and all of the sudden my allergies flared up. Odd.
These kid stories always get me. I'd love for you to check this story out if you have time:
http://tinyurl.com/d3svey
Well written!!
Unique. Precious… and universal. In phase with your vision and intention to save the world.
Luc, father of little Ness (3 years old… who delightfully pushes me out with her little feet while sleeping in Mom and Dad's bed). So let's save the world together!
Bah! Must….hold back….tears…… You really touched on something that's been inside of me since Dec 5th 2001 (the day my son was born). Fantastic post.