Our President’s Letter to his Daughters

Last updated on: January 19, 2009 at 3:00 pm by Scot McKnight

Our President’s Letter to his Daughters 2009-01-19T15:00:21-06:00 Scot McKnight

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Perhaps you’ve already seen this now public letter from our President-Elect to his daughters.

Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you’ve both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to
picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably
shouldn’t have let you have. But I also know that it hasn’t always been easy for you and Mom, and
that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn’t make up for all the time we’ve
been apart. I know how much I’ve missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little
more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I’d make my way in the
world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world
with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up
my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn’t seem so important anymore. I soon found
that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life
wouldn’t count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness
and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that’s why I ran for President: because of what I want
for you and for every child in this nation.

I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential-schools that challenge
them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them
to have the chance to go to college-even if their parents aren’t rich. And I want them to get good
jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time
with their own kids and retire with dignity.

I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you’ll live to see new technologies and
inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our
own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep
us from seeing the best in each other.

Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to
protect our country-but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason,
that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything
possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the
blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free-that with the great privilege of being a
citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.

Sasha (l) and Malia Obama at play in New Hampshire in
2007. Bumper cars at the Iowa State Fair in August 2007.

That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the
opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched
for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean
something.

She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can
always be made better-and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us.
It’s a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know
America should be.

I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to
give others the chances you’ve had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back
to this country that has given our family so much-although you do have that obligation. But because
you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something
larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.

These are the things I want for you-to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and
no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help
build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and
thrive that you girls have. That’s why I’ve taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every
day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the
White House.

Love, Dad

Uncategorized

Previous Post

January 19, 2009

Midday Bible Study: Gospel 56

Next Post

January 19, 2009 Would Jesus Cancel Class for the Inauguration?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Acts of the Apostles Adam Advent Anabaptism Angels Anglican Apologetics Atonement Baptism BCP Prayers Bible Biblical Studies Birds Blogging Bloglossary Bonhoeffer Books Calvinism Christianity Church Church History Coffee Colossians Commentary Recs Conversion Creation Creeds Culture Death Ecclesiastes Economics Education Embracing Grace Emergent Emerging Movement Eschatology Essays Ethics Eucharist Evangelicalism Family Fasting Fathers Fellowship of Differents Footsteps Tour Fun and Whimsical Gospel Grace Happiness Heaven Hell Holy Spirit Irenaeus James Jesus Jesus Creed Job Justification Kingdom of God Law Lectures Lent Liberalism Love and Marriage Mabanteneni Manhood Mary Miracles Missio Alliance MissioLife Missional Missional Jesus Movies and Film New Perspective Northern Seminary OneLife Origins Project Orthodox Parables Pastor's Spouse Pastoring and Leading Pastoring and Preaching Patristics Paul Paul-John Tour Pharisees Pietism Political Theology Prayer and Formation Preaching Problems for Faith Psalm 119 Psalms Public Issues Purgatory Religions Resurrection Revelation Romans Rule of JCreed Science and Faith Sermon on the Mount Sports Ten Commandments Theology Third Way Top Ten Lists Translations Uncategorized Universalism University Ministry Way Out Weekly Meanderings Wisdom Women and Ministry Work Worship Writing & Blogging Youth Ministry

Select a Month July 2021 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 0000

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What Christian group is known for using incense during worship?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jehovah’s Witnesses Pentecostals Orthodox Christians Baptists