To be honest there's moments when I feel guilty for having been blessed with such a wonderful Dad. Why me? How was I the “lucky” one? Yet I know without a shadow of a doubt I wouldn't be the woman I am today if it wasn't for the way God used (and continues to use) my Dad to touch my heart and life. Growing up I was always “Daddy's girl.” I loved going to work with him and just spending time with him for that matter. My favorite part of the day was when he came home and we'd [my sisters & I] meet him out by the lane and get a ride in on the back of his little ole blue pick up truck. Doll strollers, doll babies, and all. :) Has he always loved me perfectly? Certainly not. Yet He has given me a picture of and has shown me my Heavenly Father's love time and time again. He's the only earthly man who hasn't walked in and out of my life. He's prayed for me more than I'll ever know. The time he has spent down on his knees has not been in vain. One of my favorite child hood memories is when I would wake up early and go out and find my Dad on his knees talking to God. I hope and pray that I can be a woman who seeks God's face the way my Daddy does. His story isn't an easy one, it's one that as I keep learning new pieces of it makes my heart want to cry and my admiration for what he's allowed God to do in his life grows even more. I know I can't thank God enough for the gift He has given me by giving me the earthly Dad He has. He does so well with loving God, his wife, and his 4 daughters. Someone told me when they were at their house how she loved seeing his face light up as each one of his girls came downstairs. How special is that? He even still opens the car door for my Mom. [Go Dad!] Does he get everything right? Not near, but he's gotten the important things right and for that I am so grateful. He's worked hard for years to provide for his family. When he made a promise to my Mom to love her even in good and the hard times, in sickness and in health, he's done so. His journey has been a really hard one at times, yet he remains faithful to God and his family. There's tears streaming down my face as I'm writing this. What did I do to deserve such love like this? Nothing, yet just like my Heavenly Father's love it's been given to me time and time again even when I'm not very lovable. Yesterday when the picture of my Dad, my sister and I appeared on Facebook, I all of a sudden just really missed them both and would love to just go back and do that day over again. Living far away from my Dad has taught me a lot and has made me appreciate him all the more. He never made me feel less than because I was a girl. He's given me the gift of his trust and his support. He's taught me so many things and the list goes on. Yet the thing I treasure the most is how he has taught me about God, His truth, and the gift of knowing Jesus as my Savior. I have the joy of being able be his daughter, to call him Dad, and for that I thank God, but not nearly as often as I should.
I know many people out there don't have a Dad who spends time with them the way mine does with me, who invests into their life the way mine does, and my heart breaks for you. I wish you could know an earthly Dad's love the way I do. Yet I want you to know that you do have Someone who loves you far greater than any Dad ever could. That's something I need to remember. Yes, my Dad means a lot to me, but he isn't the answer to my deepest needs. Only Jesus can meet those needs. My Dad can't always be there for me, but my Jesus is and always will be. I have the gift of having a Dad who delights in me, yet I have a Heavenly Father who delights in me and the heart He's given me beyond my wildest dreams. His love by far trumps that of my earthly Dad's. His love is perfect. With my Dad I feel safe, yet with God I am safe anytime and anyplace. God's arms are the only place that I can truly be held, though there are days when I really wish for a hug from my Dad. Thankfully God gives the best hugs of all!
To those of you who have been blessed with a wonderful Dad, let him know, and don't take him for granted. To those of you out there who I know have lots of pain from your Dad may you allow God to bring healing to those hurts. May you be given the grace to love & forgive him despite what all you've experienced from the hands and words of your earthly Dad. To those of you whose Dad's are no longer on this earth, may you feel your Heavenly Father's arms holding you ever so tight.
To all of you Dad's out there. Keep on loving God and your families. What you do matters. It does make a difference. Who knows? Maybe someday 20 some years from now you'll have children who will love God, and love & respect you as much as I do my Dad now. To all of those who dream of being a Dad someday, you can start now by spending time on your knees talking with the One who is the best Father of all.
Someday when I get to Heaven I want to sit on God's lap and thank Him for the gift of being loved twice. First of all by Him and second of all by my Dad.
A daughter of God & her Daddy's girl, Rhonda
