When I Learned How Much a Daughter Needs Her Daddy

She is 7 years old, and will be in the 2nd grade in just over a month. I have held her since just minutes after she was born, and now I watch her ride her bike all over our street. It won’t seem like but a few blinks and she’ll be driving a car down the street.

There is something special about that connection between a daughter and her daddy. Of course, Mary Carol has the greatest model of “lady-hood” that any little girl could ever hope to have, but she is maturing in her own way, too. She loves her mommy, but it is already obvious that Mary Carol will be her own person, and that’s okay (so long as it’s a person who is faithful to the Lord, like her mommy).

But it took a special gift for me to realize not just that there is a connection between daddy and daughter, but how much a daughter needs her daddy. And next week, I will remember that picture in a much clearer way.

Last Christmas, as it was time to open presents, there was a bag under the tree. For several days, Mary Carol had told me that it was for me. Of course, I would pick it up and shake it to show her that I couldn’t wait to open it, but it weighed nothing, and it didn’t rattle. I figured it was a card, or some hand painted work of art she wanted me to have.

Finally, the day came, and I opened the bag. Inside was a small, slick piece of paper. It was this photo:

Now, you may think, “You’re overthinking this. Most daddies have gotten a picture for a gift from their kids.”

But there was more to it. Oh, the picture was all that was in the bag (other than that weird paper you buy to stuff in bags to make them look fancier). However, Mary Carol explained the reason for giving this picture to me.

She said, “This is for you to take to camp, so you don’t forget me.”

Wow! What an eye-opening statement. Here it was December, and camp isn’t until July. I hadn’t been gone on any extra trips since camp the summer that kept me away from my family. Also, our camp is only a few miles away, and Leah brings the kids up there a couple of afternoons to visit.

I literally stared at the picture in my hand with my mind racing. Tears welled up at the innocence of not only her gift, but the reason behind it. Of course, I would never–nor could I ever–forget my precious treasure, but that she even thought that was a possibility touched me, and really made me think.

By the way, since camp was so far away, I have been using her picture as my bookmark in my Bible this year. Just in case I need any extra motivation to read that day, seeing her angelic face adds that extra “something” to help me open and read. But next week, I will be headed to camp. My Bible will go with me, as will this wonderful bookmark…and the reminder of how much this glorious gift from God needs her daddy.

Dad, if you ever think your daughter doesn’t need you, just watch her and listen to her. She wants you to be her hero. She wants your strength to protect her. She longs for her daddy to show her respect and love.

Your daughter gets up in the morning because you exist. You were here first and she came into being because of you. The epicenter of her tiny world is you. Friends, family members, teachers, professors, or coaches will influence her to varying degrees, but they won’t knead her character. You will. Because you are her dad. (Meg Meeker, page 5)

A simple photo reminded me of that. What will it take to remind you of it?

QUESTION: Why do you think this desire in daughters is so strong?

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As an added resource, may I recommend Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker? This is a wonderful book, from which the inset quote above came, that will help daddies realize the powerful influence they have in this extremely important relationship.

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