In his book, The Forgotten Commandment, Dennis Rainey encourages readers to write a formal tribute to their parents and present it to them during a special occasion (birthday, anniversary, holiday, etc.). Following is an example of a tribute. Click here for more information on honoring your parents and for more tribute examples.
Tribute to Bill White from his daughter, Jill Von Edwins:
My dear daddy, I want to let you know how very very much I love and respect you. I know that you know I love you but I wanted to tell you today how very special my life has been having you as my daddy. Thank you that I have and will always be “daddy’s little girl” Thank you daddy that I have always known that you love me and that you would never leave me. Thank you that you gave me a strong love for my family. That you instilled in me a strong commitment to my family.
I have so many wonderful memories of our relationship. I appreciate so much your sense of humor. It has always been fun to laugh with you. My friends have always loved being with you. Thank you that you have welcomed my friends—even today when I bring friends home!!
Daddy you have unselfishly given to me all my life. Thank you for building furniture so that we could go to Lamar. You never once complained about all the work it took. In fact I never knew you built furniture for the money I honestly thought you did it because you enjoyed it. Although I know you did enjoy making furniture and I thank you for every piece I have in my home. It makes me proud to tell everyone that “my daddy built it all !!”
Thank you also, daddy, for teaching me how to give. I have watched you and mother give to your family, your neighbors, your church, your friends all my life. Your unselfishness inspires me.
Thank you for standing by me through Lamar, Dustys, Phi Mu, MJC, MSU, and ETSU and even piano lessons!! Thank you also for the beautiful wedding you gave me. I’ll never forget you walking me down the aisle crying—I felt so loved and cherished by you. Thank you that you got upset about me moving so far away and knowing that it still hurts you that we live apart.
Daddy thank you for always putting us first—you attended every school and church activity I was involved in. I loved it when I was growing up and I thought all daddys do this for their little girls. It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized that not all daddys do that and how very much my daddy loved me.
Thank you for what a wonderful Papa you are to Riley, Kirby, and Emma. I love that you tell them constantly that they are “Papa’s girl” and Papa’s boy”. Thanks to you and mother for being there for me after all my babies were born. They love y’all so very much. We’ve all loved every piece of candy and every star you’ve drawn on their precious little hands. It is fun to watch you spoil them cause I know how much you enjoy it.
Daddy thank you for taking care of Mother. I know it is hard for you to see her in pain. Thank you for seeing that she gets the best care. God knew what he was doing when he put y’all together.
Daddy thank you for being so encouraging of me being on staff with Campus Crusade. I do not know if I could do it without your blessing.
Thank you daddy for the fun we have had with food over the years. It thrills me to see how much you and mother love to feed us! How fun it was to have steak every Sat. night when I was growing up. Thank you for pork tenderloins, ribs, and shrimp we now enjoy together. What fun it was as a child and still today for you to buy us a watermelon and while cutting it open telling us it was green!! Thank you for roasted and boiled peanuts and all the fun that goes along with making them!!
Daddy, you are a very fun daddy. It seems that I grow to love you more and more each day.
Daddy there are so many more things I could thank you for. I am very proud that you are my daddy. It is a joy to be your daughter. I am very blessed.
Thank you, God, for my daddy.
Tribute to Edith White from her daughter, Jill Von Edwins:
My dear precious Mother, when I lived at home every morning of my life you would ask me if I wanted a piece of toast knowing that I did not eat breakfast!!! I do not know if I could have made it through the day without you asking me that question every morning. I love you dearly for it!! God blessed me with a precious, kind, loving mother.
Mother, I want to tell you today how very very much I love you and thank you for all the precious memories you and I have shared.
First, I want to thank you for staying home with us and not working. I remember how wonderful it was even in college to have you home when I came home. Not to mention that you had lunch ready for me and my clothes washed and ironed!! You have always put your family first. I have watched you go without so many times so we could have.
One of the things I enjoy the most about you is your cooking. I loved it growing up but I didn’t really know how to appreciate it until I moved away!! I appreciate so much the amount of time you spend, the love you add, and how much you enjoy every minute of cooking for us. Thank you for caring what my favorites are and wanting to fix them to this day!! I think of some of my favorites: peas and cornbread, banana pudding, chocolate cake, red beans and rice, fudge, and oh my goodness fruitcake!! I absolutely cannot imagine Christmas without your fruitcake. Thank you for making that so fun. I also enjoy eating chocolate with you especially while watching an old movie together. Thank you for making divinity for Roger cause you know he loves it.
Thank you, mother, for always welcoming my friends to our house. They all love y’all so much!! Thank you for getting me through Dustys by making all those “happies”. Thank you for loving me through all my high school and college days. I know there were days when you probably wondered if I was gonna make it but you never stopped cheering me on and telling me I could do it. I do not know if Lamar School could have run without you and daddy. Thank you for all the time and money you spent. You have always been my biggest fan – thank you that I know no matter what you will always be for me.
Thank you for the summer we had together planning my wedding. You were a beautiful mother of the bride. Every detail was attended to because you were in charge. I knew I didn’t have to worry. You were so calm and in control. Thank you for making sure it was perfect for me!!
I also want to thank you that for 35 years you have let me come in the bathroom with you while you are getting dressed and putting on your make-up. I will cherish those times forever.
Mother I want to thank you for your very unselfish and giving spirit. You are always taking care of somebody: daddy, one of your children, one of your grandchildren, a friend, or a neighbor. You really do have the most giving heart of anybody I know.
Thank you for loving and taking care of daddy. Y’all were made for each other.
I am also especially grateful for the memories of watching you love and take care of grandmother. You were so sweet to her.
Thank you for what a wonderful Grandmother you are. Riley, Kirby, and Emma think you are wonderful. Thank you that the first days of each of their lives were spent with you and daddy. Riley says she’s going to grow up and be a grandmother just like you!! I hope I do too!! It is such a thrill to watch you with my kids. Thank you for spoiling them by proclaiming your house the “house of yes”! Thank you that they get special treats in the mail from you. I know you miss them so bad it hurts.
Thank you for standing by me in my commitment to Campus Crusade and encouraging me to do what God has called me to do.
Thank you that you try so hard to make sure that your kids know that you love them all equally! I will never tell them that you tell me all the time that I am your favorite!!
Thank you that you want to buys things for me and my kids. A shopping trip with my mother is one of my very favorite things to do—yes, even when you don’t buy me anything!!
Thank you for caring about every detail of my life and for being a very important part of my life. I do not know what I would do without you. There’s so much more I could say. I am proud to be your daughter.
I am so thankful that you are my mother.
Copyright © 2004 by Jill Von Edwins. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
