This summer my wife and I got married and it was awesome. Married life is great. We had a blast celebrating our commitment to each other with friends and loved ones especially because it had been two weeks since marriage equality became a real thing.

And during the wedding and ceremony my wife and I were having so much fun. That for those 7 hours we forgot that there really important people missing from our wedding. My parents.

It wasnt until the day after that it really hit me. My parents didn’t show up. And although I am so very happy being married, there are some days that I am just not okay with the fact that I will remember this day for the rest of my life and my mom’s smiling face and my dad’s goofy orneryness will be completely missing from my memory and the photos.

And because they will probably never see this and I am just not brave enough to confront them face to face… I come here to write an imaginary letter…one that will never be delivered… But i need to write this…

Dear Mom and Dad,
How are things? We hardly ever talk anymore. We miss you. I miss you. Where are you?
So a lot has happened, I am sure you know that i got married to the Love of my life in July! I gave you an invitation, so you at least would know where I was for two weeks…
I knew deep down you guys would probably not attend, just as I knew that no one else but my sister would. You did tell me a year ago that you wouldn’t…
And I didn’t push you. I wrote you a letter explaining how I believe that my relationship is indeed a positive relationship and that God still loves and supports us. Especially since I feel that our faith in Him has grown stronger.
It had to…because without my faith in God…I don’t know how I will ever find the strength to forgive you…
You missed everything. You missed the planning, the hard work that we put in to our big day. And although you are a rock star when it comes to decorating, Mom, you weren’t there to help. But our wedding was beautiful. My best friend gave me away, when that should have been you, Dad. You guys would have loved the party… There was singing and dancing and I know you would have had fun!
But you were at a beach…trying to forget that I was getting married. You were thousands of miles away…and you still are in a matter if speaking.
How is this love? How can breaking the Heart of your child be something that our Savior would support? How is this just?

It isn’t… And I don’t believe Jesus is proud of you. I am not okay, with your absence. I am not okay knowing that you aren’t even trying.

But I love you…and it is because i love you, that I will lean on Christ and try… Try to forgive. I will continue the hope that someday your hearts will soften. That you will see my marriage as real and good. And I will never stop trying to show you what love is.

Dear Mom and Dad,
How are things? We hardly ever talk anymore. We miss you. I miss you. Where are you?