Thanks GirlDads for the Little Things

Let me start with my conclusion today:

I know that sometimes being a great dad (or mom) is a thankless job. So on this day after Thanksgiving, I want to send a BIG heartfelt “THANK YOU” for the powerful and positive impact you’re having, especially when no one is watching, as you invest in raising your strong, confident, compassionate, healthy and empowered daughter!

Thank you for being the guiding light, the protector, the cheerleader, and the role model that your daughter needs. You’ve heard me say it before and I’ll say it again: 

I truly believe we will have a healthier country from the ground up with healthier women.

This means your influence is VITAL in shaping not just your daughter’s future, but our entire society as well.

Sometimes you as dads are the unsung heroes who don’t get enough credit. And because it can be easy to overlook the small moments, today I want to “go small” (as opposed to the often-celebrated refrain, “go big or go home.”)

Thank you for:

• the bedtime stories

• the morning hugs

• laughing at princess stories

• letting her put make-up on your face while styling your hair

• learning to love all things pink or girly (or whatever color or style your daughter loves)

• wiping tears

• kissing boo-boo’s

• listening longer than you’ve ever done for anyone else

• driving to soccer practice or ballet class or youth group

• times you were extra patient and she didn’t know

• holding your tongue when anger was trying hard to be expressed

• going the extra mile to give when you didn’t have it to give

• loving her mom

• modeling how to keep going when the going gets tough

• working to put food on the table and pay the bills

• praying for her and with her

• reading the Bible and leading spiritually despite feeling inadequate 

• parenting her uniquely and not like her siblings

• doing your best to let her know you love her unconditionally

• building an imperfect bridge to God as her Father while being completely aware of that bridge’s inadequacies and loose bolts

• asking forgiveness and humbly admitting your humanity

• choosing not to look at porn because you know that what you do behind closed doors matters

• sitting on hard, cold bleachers for years just to cheer her on

• watching “her” shows and movies with her when they’re not your preferences just so you can bond

• taking her on dates and spending one-on-one time just with her

• growing your emotional skill set 

• sacrificing so she can have what she needs

I could go on, but you get the gist.

On this day after Thanksgiving, I pray you can hear my message loud and clear: The little things ARE the big things.

Your investment matters for eternity.

The best way I know to close this blog is to share these eternal and powerful words directly from Jesus to you:

When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. 

They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out [a.k.a. your daughter], don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way God, your Father, working behind the scenes, helps you out. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
(Matthew 6:2-4, 33 MSG)