Fathers and Daughters…there really is something special about this kind of a relationship. I see this relationship in a new perspective now than even a year ago.

Recently, I witnessed a father giving his daughter away to her future husband, dancing the father-daughter dance, and toasting the new couple. The presence of a father is something that my girl will miss on all the big milestones that come in her life. Thankfully he was there for so many firsts. From her first breath to her last day of high school. From her first steps to her first day driving. From her first dress to her last prom. He was there for it all. 

The best thing about being in an amazing and loving family and community is that it means my girl is blessed with some amazing father figures in her life that have already and will no doubt continue to show up and fill the empty spaces when needed. These father figures are a huge blessing, they are valued and they are honored. That being said, they will never be able to take the place, be the same as, or as special as her own father. My heart aches deeply for this loss because I know what it is like to lose your father, your daddy, your Prince Charming.

You see, I was blessed to grow up with a daddy that was amazing. He was all in and my sister and I knew it. There wasn’t one day that went by that we did not know that he loved and cared for us deeply. We were his princesses and we felt valued and honored. He was also intentional to demonstrate what a godly husband should look like in everyday life and in the home. He loved my mom, he served her and treated her like the queen of our “castle” on Peach St. 

Having this example led me to selecting a man that seemingly was the complete opposite of my father in all his likes, dislikes, personality and interests. However, in all the ways that mattered Jason was just like my dad. He loved me, he served me and treated me like the queen of our “castle” wherever that happened to be at the moment. More than that he loved our girl and she was his princess.

Now, from the moment we found out we were pregnant we thought we were having a boy. So imagine our surprise when we found out that we were expecting a girl. We were both nervous. We were first time parents and more than that what did we know about raising a child…let alone a girl! I mean really…me? The girl that would rather be in sweats and a hoodie than a dress? What if my daughter wants to wear makeup, dress up in all the pink sparkly things, and wear bows? What if she doesn’t want to play sports? How will I relate? How will I parent someone who could potentially be my opposite?

Well…spoiler alert! Not only did my girl come out loving bows, dresses that twirled, and all the pink sparkly things, but she loved putting on lipstick (thank you Gigi!) and makeup. What I love even more is that after trying all the sports, she finally found something that she loved and thrived in…cheerleading. We loved watching her cheer and compete! Jason was the best cheer dad. He went to all the competitions and even helped to lead the crowd in chants as our girls took to the mat. She also found that she loved music and was good at art…just like her daddy. They had long conversations about different genres of music as well as different painting, drawing, and sketching techniques, and the best mediums to use for various projects. They spent hours planning what project came next and then followed those epic planning sessions up by visiting local craft stores for all the materials and even spent time at a local museum viewing master artists and their works. However, some of my favorite memories have come from watching a father and a daughter bond over movies such as all the Avengers and Marvel movies, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and so much more. She was his princess and there wasn’t a day that went by that he did not make her feel special.

So why is it that this relationship is so special? Well, our Heavenly Father fills the role of King so well. We know that He longs for a relationship with us. He wants to daily spend time with us and see us choose Him…choose eternal life. As we daily choose a relationship with Him he will love us and help us to see our value in Him. As we daily choose a relationship with Him, He will direct our path and we can honor Him with the choices we make. But wait, here is the best part, while He is our King, by seeking a daily relationship with Him, he takes the place as our Heavenly Father. He moves closer to us as we move closer to Him. He is not a vending machine or some unjust creator waiting to destroy this version of his prototype and create another. He is kind, He is patient, and He sees us as valuable and precious.

Imagine the way Jason looked at Abby based on the description above. Can you see it? I know I can. His crystal clear blue eyes sparkling with excitement and joy watching her do, talk, and experience all the things. Now, for a moment, think about how you look at your children (if you have them), your family, your friends, your pets, etc.

Now read the following scripture: 

“As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11 GNT

So knowing this promise, how would you describe the way your Heavenly Father looks at you? Are you running to your Father when you need Him? Are you sitting with Him daily?

I want to challenge you to take time to sit with Him daily, spend time learning about how He sees you, and how great His love is for you. The more time you spend with Him, the more you will begin to reflect Him to those around you, and we could all use a little more of our Father’s love here on earth.

Finally, if you are a father I want to take this moment to say Happy Father’s Day. May you be blessed to spend time with those who love you and those that you love. May you be blessed with all the ties, coffee mugs, and gag gifts that you can enjoy! But more than all of this, may you know that your Heavenly Father longs to spend time with you, do you want to spend time with Him?