Customer Reviews

Letters From Dad: How to Leave a Legacy of Faith, Hope, and Love for Your Family

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Greg Vaughn had never been close with his dad. So after his dad died and Vaughn was cleaning out the garage, he was surprised at the depth of his grief. "The only thing I had left from my dad was an old tackle box and silence." He continues, "I remember crying out to God, 'This is it? This is all I get? I don't even have my father's signature!' "

That garage moment set in motion Vaughn's growing nationwide movement to encourage men to write periodic letters to their children --- and wives and parents --- leaving a legacy of blessing, affirmation, and love.

The book essentially explains how to set about writing letters, complete with sample letters, a table of contents listing topics that letters might address over time, and writing tips from a college professor. Vaughn suggests that letters include three elements: praise, hope and vision for the future, and assurance of loving commitment.

But it also has an unfolding plot with multiple characters, explaining how Vaughn gathered a dozen men to join him in his initial, tentative venture. They met monthly for four months, agreeing to write and then read to the group letters they'd written --- first to wives, then to children, then to parents, living or dead, and finally a letter on the order of a final testament: "If our friends who've passed away had been able to speak at their own funerals, I wonder what they would've said. Have you ever thought about that? What would you say if you could speak at your own funeral?"

You see the men interested in the letter-writing concept but clueless as to what to say or how to start. You see the reactions of wives and children when they receive their first letters, presented, according to Vaughn's schema, in wooden boxes with engraved nameplates. You see glimpses into Vaughn's own blended family. You see the birth of a church-based course called "Letters from Dad."

On one level the book is a promotional piece for Vaughn's ministry, but it should not be discounted on that count. It is an inspiring and encouraging tool in its own right. Its breezy tone, airy design, and short (four-page) chapters make the venture accessible even to reluctant participants. It would make a great gift for any father but especially those looking for some tangible way to connect with their children and those who are facing their own mortality and need to feel that they will be remembered after their passing.

As for leaving markable legacies, every chapter of LETTERS FROM DAD begins with a page of feel-good, multigenerational family photos that create nostalgia and interest. But the people are never identified. It seems most --- but not all --- are Vaughn's own family. It makes one wonder: Who are those guys?

--- Reviewed by Evelyn Bence

It's not just a book, it's a movement. The author wants fathers to write legacy letters to loved ones giving them a tangible expression of love showing the appreciation a father feels for the children and spouse. Wouldn't we all love to have something like that from our own parent.
I read in the Orlando paper about a church adopting this concept, planning to teach it using Vaughn's curriculum. I don't think you need a group or to attach it to religion and it doesn't have to be just for fathers. I need to do this for my parents, my bothers and sisters, and my friends.
Here's the question that moves this book: "If you died today, what would your children hold in their hands tomorrow that would let them know that they're the treasures of your life?" Let this book help you provide that special letter to your loved ones.

Men, if you're looking for something practical that you can do to bless your family - this is a great book for you! Vaughn readily admits that he wasn't going to win any "father-of-the-year" awards any time soon, but he felt that the Lord was leading him to bless his family and leave a tangible legacy for his own children that his father never left for him. The idea of writing letters to this children was planted and a ministry and this book are the fruits of his labor. In fact, there is now a web site that has all the resources and materials that you'll need to do exactly what Greg Vaughn did - leave a legacy for his children and grandchildren. [...].

The book was a great read - very encouraging, challenging and uplifting. As Vaughn set out on this journey to bless his family, he surrounded himself with fourteen other men and they began the first Legacy Group that went through the process of writing and giving a letter of blessing first to their wife, then to their children, next to their parents and finally a letter to those they would leave behind after they passed away. These four letters are the backbone of this book - how to write them, how to give them to their recipients and the shared stories of the men that went on this journey to bless their families with Vaughn. One great aspect of this book is that Vaughn includes the real life stories of these other men - some who were divorced and others who were estranged from their children for years - and while not all of the stories were filled with tears of joy, Vaughn and his fellow warriors were on a quest to bless their families regardless of the response from the members of their family.

The book is an easy read for men - it's a very short 240 pages with short chapters and plenty of white space and pictures throughout. The book is great for men wanting to connect with their wives and children and who want to lead their families spiritually as well as leave a legacy for generations to come as the Lord commanded in Psalm 78. I highly recommend this book to all husbands and fathers - it is worth the investment of time and money to buy and read - a real life-changing book!

Not really having much information about my father, and being a father that wants to pass on something of significance to my children, I found this to be a very enriching book.

There are a couple of chapters toward the end that drag a little regarding how Vaughn went from leading a lunch group to championing a ministry.

It is a very quick read, and is packed full of encouragement, I would highly recommend it.

I purchased this book to give away, but have decided to send it back, as it is not appropriate for the one I intended to give it to. I went to the Letters From Dad website first and asked a couple of questions of the folks there. Then I read Amazon's reviews before buying it. Because I knew the author's relationship with his own father hadn't been all that he had wished for, I had high hopes for this purchase.

This book is great for what it is. If you have a good relationship with your family - spouse, children, parents, then they will likely be very touched and thrilled that you chose to write these letters of love to them. If this is the case, go for it.

However, if your relationship(s) are strained, don't expect writing letters to your family to be appreciated. If your family members TRULY BELIEVE you are sincere, maybe they will appreciate your efforts. And maybe they won't. Remember that actions speak louder than words. Words are great but follow-through of what you say is EVERYTHING.

On page 69, the author mentions a couple of letter-writing situations that didn't end well. One was of a father who had been having problems with his teenage son. He wrote several letters to his son, intending to bring about reconciliation. But a few weeks later, his son returned and gave his father the box full of letters back - with the letters torn up inside. Of course, we will never know why, but obviously it wasn't enough for this young man.

My own Christian family has these types of relationships within it. For some, trust has been lost and therefore, words are empty. For others, words mean nothing because what they really want (or wanted) was to have a Dad who showed sincere interest in their lives and wanted to be involved. There are other variations of hurt and loss within my family and others that I know.

My advice to any Dad who does not already have close relationships with their spouse, children, parents or grandchildren, would be to buy Gary Chapman's books, "The Five Love Languages" and "The Five Love Languages of Apology." Read them and do what they say. Until you learn to speak your loved ones' love language, they will not FEEL loved.

Dads, if your loved ones are very mature, they may be able to give you the benefit of the doubt, forgive you where necessary and let their expectations go. But this is a best-case-scenario, and will never bring about the depth of relationship that is possible with some effort and hard work. Why not leave them with a true LIVE legacy of memories?

I bought this as a gift for a workmate who had just become a father for the first time. I was a little concerned as he is a Mormon and the author is not. I voiced my concerns to him when I gave him the book, and explained that I thought that the subject matter would be universal and apply to any father regardless of his beliefs. After reading the book, my friend agreed and thanked me for my gift. He thoroughly enjoyed it and finished it in short order.

This book is a book every man should read. If we all followed the examples in this book there would be no divorces. It shows how to REALLY love your family (love is a verb not a feeling)! I will recommend it to others!

Wonderful book and I purchased this on the Kindle for PC. Operating a children's home amplifies the need for this from Dad's everywhere. Mom, this would be a good gift to give to you husband - he will love it and your children will benefit greatly....

Learn how to leave a legacy of faith, hope and love to the ones you love. Highly Recommened

Heart-warming. every dad should have a copy. I have loaned my copy out to several friends. They all have very good and meaningful comments.