More than money, I.Q, or social class, the depth and breadth of our relationships with family, friends, and spouses are the most important predictors of whether we'll age and live a long and happy life.
- The Harvard Study of Adult Development

Grace Smith
Sleeps, but rests not.
Loved, but was loved not.
Tried to please, but pleased not.
Died as she lived - alone.
- Gravemarker in the Locke Hill Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas

The concept of being wanted by a father was foreign to me. I felt unwanted by my dad. My mother died giving birth to me so maybe he saw me as the cause of her death - I’m not sure. I never carried on meaningful conversation with my dad. As a matter of fact the only affection I remember came when I was 9 years old. He put his arm around me for about 30 seconds while we were on our way to my step mother’s funeral. Besides that the only physical touch I experienced were the beatings I received when I disobeyed or bothered him.

My goal in our relationship was not to annoy my father. I’d walk around the house just trying not to upset him. He died when I was 12. I cried but I also felt relief. The impact of that relationship affected me for years. I think a lot of those emotions transferred into my relationship with God. For instance I tried not to annoy God with my sin or upset Him with my little problems.

I had no aspiration of being wanted by God. I was just happy not to be hated or hurt by Him.
- Francis Chan