Yesterday, I got off the tour bus and hurried to my four year-old’s ballet class. It was parent observation day. Incredibly cute.
I watched her stretch to the left and then to the right and then down the middle to smell her toes, pretending they were flowers.
I watched in amazement as she contorted her body until her feet touched the little bun on the back of her head. Incredibly bendy.
I watched her take position after position without hesitation as her teacher gave the commands one after another. Incredibly smart.
I watched her bow to us at the end of class like a real live grown up ballerina. Incredible.
And I realized I’d been smiling for an hour. And I know dad’s aren’t supposed to have favorites but at that moment she was mine. I couldn’t imagine having a more incredible kid or loving her any more than I do.
I know it’s dangerous to make God out to be too human, but I have to wonder if that’s how God feels about me. He doesn’t need me to make the world go around today. He’s complete with or without me. But He sings over me anyway. He knows how many hairs and days He’s given me. He watches me stumble, and sometimes dance, through the day – He notices me – and it somehow brings Him delight. He somehow thinks I’m incredible. I don’t understand it. And I often feel like a heretic for even thinking it, but I know it’s true. I want to know it’s true.
And that’s the Christmas lesson most difficult for me to fully accept: God so loved the world – and that includes me – that He sent His one and only Son…
Beth says:
Shaun,
P. is absolutely beautiful and so full of life. Thanks for the reminder of the real meaning of the season; and the whole reason God sent His son in the first place. We are ALL God’s favorites and it’s nice to be reminded of that.
Beth
Rebecca says:
Beautiful!
claudie brown says:
What a beautiful daughter. Nothing like a Fathers’ love for his children. My son and daughter are grown now, but seems like they were babes just yesterday. Cherish every second and I’m praying daily for your ministry.
Stretch Mark Mama says:
I don’t have a favorite, either. But if I did, he’d be five and cuddly like a kitten. And each night after he’d fallen asleep I’d look in on him and wonder if God loves me even a fraction of how much I love my boy.
Kelly says:
beautiful
and i’m crying
Lori Jo says:
it absolutely warms my heart to hear of daddies speak so well of their daughters. cause that’s how it should be, and that makes me happy :]
Kristin Charles says:
Loved this post. Thanks:)
E-Jayjo says:
So Sweet!!
keith says:
My last comment didn’t show up. I just wanted to say, “me too.”