After 13 Long Years, My Daughter Surprised Me with a Christmas Letter – You Won’t Believe What She Said!
|Over ten years ago, I lost everything because I didn’t take myself seriously. I lost my job, my family, and felt like I had no purpose. But after years of rebuilding my life, I now have a chance to make things right with my daughter, who I haven’t seen in over a decade.
I used to be a hopeful young man with big dreams. I wanted to run my own business, and for a while, I thought I was on the right track. I think this ambition is what first attracted my ex-wife, Rebecca. She even supported me while I was starting my repair shop.

Rebecca and I had our daughter, Harriet, while I was trying to make the business work. Unfortunately, my shop went bankrupt, and I began to feel hopeless. I worked as a waiter to support my family, but I couldn’t provide the stability they needed.
Rebecca asked me, “When are you going to get a real job?” I had no answer. Even though I had a great bond with Harriet, my marriage with Rebecca started falling apart. We fought a lot, and eventually, I lost my job at the restaurant.

When I was let go from my job, I didn’t care. I was in such a low place that I figured Rebecca could support me while I figured things out. That evening, I took a walk with my family, but Rebecca seemed upset. She then told me, “I’m leaving you, Jimmy. I just can’t do this anymore.” In that moment, my whole world fell apart. I tried to convince her to stay, but she had already made up her mind. I hugged Harriet tightly and told her, “Daddy will always love you no matter what.” She didn’t understand what was happening. The next day, Rebecca and Harriet were gone, and I was left alone.
I realized then that I had failed. I couldn’t even take care of Harriet, and I had no job or savings. A few months later, Rebecca moved in with a new partner named Eric. She told me, “Don’t even think about talking to Harriet until you get your life together.”

I still wanted to stay connected with my daughter, so I used the last of my money to buy her a gift—a bunny. I also wrote a note that said, “I miss you so much. Happy Birthday. Love, Daddy.”
When I got to Eric’s house, I saw that he was wealthy. He threw a big birthday party for Harriet with mascots and a jumping castle. I felt ashamed. He could give Harriet things I could never afford. I left the gift at the gate and left, feeling hopeless. I decided to leave town and start fresh somewhere else. I sold the house my father had left me and moved to a new city with nothing but the clothes on my back.
I worked odd jobs to survive, but two years later, I was broke again. I was evicted and found myself homeless. I knew I couldn’t live like this anymore, so I went into a local store and begged for a job. The manager gave me a chance to work as a cleaner. Over time, I was promoted to cashier, and eventually, I became the store administrator.

Although I had a stable income and had cleaned up my life, I was still lonely. Years passed, and I didn’t talk to my family, nor did I have any close friends. I gave money to charity because I had no one to spend it on.
Then, one day, I received a letter that wasn’t a bill—it was a Christmas card from Harriet! It had been 13 years since I last heard from her, and I was overjoyed.
The letter read:
“Hi, Dad. I’ve finally found you! I’ll be flying in to see you tomorrow. We have so much to talk about. Even though mom and Eric gave me everything growing up, I always wondered when you would come back. Mom always told me you were a loser and I should forget about you, but I can see you’ve changed. By the way, I still have the bunny you gave me for my birthday. I named him Jimmy, so in a way, you’ve been with me all along! See you soon. I love you, and I can’t wait. Merry Christmas, Dad!”

This letter was the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’ve missed Harriet so much, and I never thought I’d have this opportunity to make things right. I worked hard to change my life and help my community, but this is the second chance I’ve always hoped for.
Although I was too ashamed to go back home, I know now that God has given me a chance to reconnect with Harriet. This time, I’ll do everything I can to make her proud and make up for the years we’ve lost. After 13 long years, I finally have my shot at redemption.