Tuesday, April 28, 2009

300:150

I am sitting in the office at church about to order flowers for the Mothers day service and I was told to average about 300 carnations to be handed out that sunday. With Fathers day approaching the following month, I was informed that usually it was a chocolate bar of some sort- but to only plan on 150.. at the most. Now I know I went to bible college and was never a left brain person, but if my anatomy class services me correctly, doesn’t it take two to tango? Doesn’t it take the female anatomy and the male to reproduce? So what happened?
Where is the papa?
I am a daddy’s girl to the core. I love my mother (more of that in a few weeks), but the bond between daughters and fathers is different. I was blessed with an amazing dad. I will always cherish my daddy dates (growing up and even now) and don’t want to picture my life without him. Yet, so many mothers, sons and daughters are left without them. The male counterpart is out there, but the Father does not exist. Why are there 300 carnations and 150 chocolate bars? What I think men don’t realize is what they are missing out on. And casue of that, the daughters are in the dark as well. No matter if the relationship with your dad/daughter is a good one or non existent, it effects both of you. Who is suppose to show the girls the respect and honor we deserve? Who is suppose to protect us and tell us we look pretty (even in those awkward middle school years)? Who is suppose to spoil us like a queen but teach us how not to act like one? Who is suppose to pray with us when our girlfriends tease us and we feel out of place? Who is suppose to remind us that we have a place to belong? Who is suppose to tell us to keep our pants on?* Who is suppose to care about who we date and where we are at? Who is suppose to flatten the guys tires that broke our hearts? Who are we suppose to look up to? Who else can love us like they do?
How can we get a glimpse of the Father’s love without a father?
My heart breaks knowing that daughters are missing out on a piece of life that was so vital to mine. My heart breaks knowing that these daughters have no control over it. We have no power over what family we are born into. But life isn't about circumstances, its about attitude. Our life is what we make it and how we react to it. We may not be able to have control over the curves in the road ahead, but how we deal with the wide rights and sharp lefts, that is what direction we will go in. They say that girls marry like their fathers, and guys marry like their mothers.
Show them who that is.

*one of the rules in my house that my dad shoved in our faces: “keep your pants on. if you do that, we eliminate a lot of problems.”

Me and my Pops at my graduation.

9 comments:

  1. Very well done! I think I need to go cry now.

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  2. So true...I married someone very much like my father.

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  3. "Keep the pants on" should be a mantra for the youth group.

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  4. We try and shove it down their throats as well..

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  5. Well written Laura! Praise the Lord the heavinly Father comes in and protects those who don't have an earthly fater in their lives.

    I'm so grateful to have an amazing daddy too! I love him.

    miss you...

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  6. It broke my heart to read this post today. My dad has lung/brain cancer and is dying. Thanks for the warmth in this post.

    My grandpa was the one to tell me to keep my pants on...how funny!

    I also noticed your writing something on Twitter about missing chipotle...I loved that place, but we moved a year ago and we don't live near to one anymore...so I hear ya!

    ~ Wendy

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  7. [Revert to those awkward middle school years, then hear me] My dad's better than your dad. He dared the principal to spake me without parental consent....

    You've said it all!

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  8. Laura,

    Like Tammy said, I think I need to go cry now. Beautifully written, my dear! I'm so blessed that my baby girl will have the father that I did not. But you are right, you don't have to live badly because your circumstances were not perfect. I thank God every day for His fatherly love to me. He saved me and I'm His!

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