Tonight was the annual FATHER-DAUGHTER DANCE at our church. It’s so fun! I love how it’s a ‘tradition’ now. This time of year, both girls, all dolled up and FUN! I volunteer to ‘serve’ the dinner (and get a peek at my hubby and girls). I’m struck tonight at the sheer loveliness of the evening. If I had had something like this before I was in high school, I would have been ruined in the ‘expectations’ department for my dates. You know what? I’m so glad my daughters are ‘ruined’. You know why? They learn that they are worth an elaborate evening. They learn they are worth being adored. They learn that they are worth celebrating their God given beauty and desire to DANCE! They learn they are treasured. Of course I hope they learn this every day. Still, there’s something about this day that is different. It’s unique, set apart and says...I am your Father who adores being with you and dancing in our relationship. You see, it wouldn’t be very fun if there wasn’t a relationship there. Honestly, I see it deeper for our older one. Not because theirs is ‘better’, but because they’ve learned to appreciate their relationship. The younger one is learning that still. I know she’s growing in it. At least this year, she participated in the ‘walk down the stairs’ to daddy. Yes, she wasn’t as confident and embarrassed in some ways, but she knew she was coming to her daddy for their big night. She’s growing up, learning and changing, but not ‘there’ on realizing what her big sis does. Big sis KNOWS...DADDY IS MINE AND I’M HIS. Lil sis knows but still working out the confidence in it.
So why is this important? It mirrors the relationship with our Father in Heaven. It’s sooo worth prep’g ourselves for the ‘FATHER-DAUGHTER DANCE’ when the great wedding day arrives. The prep’g, the wondering, the nervousness, the assurance...they’re all there. I’m proud of my husband. Not because he’s the perfect daddy (but pretty darn close), but b/c he reflects the love of the Father to his kids. I see it. I wonder if he does? He reflects it to me too. Although imperfectly, each day we have the chance as parents to say : I love you and think you rock! I pray I’ll remember the Father-Daughter dance’s beauty is a reflection of the beauty of Jesus available to us each and every day. Our Father longs for us to come dance with Him...and not just once a year. Will we?
