I heard a song for the first time this summer, and it rang in my ears for weeks. I’ve always loved music, all genres, but never once did a song single-handedly change my life, until this one. Brad Paisley’s 1999 song, “He Didn’t Have To Be,” is by far the most realistic and truly beautiful story of the love a man can give to a child who may not be biologically their child.

I don’t go around wearing a sign, and I really don’t even tell people unless they ask, but you'll realize quickly that my Dad and I are not biologically related. There is something so wonderful, however, to be said for the Dad that I was given. No one person has challenged me, supported me, taught me and just had a truly positive impact on the woman I am today.

Brad Paisley’s song further clarified exactly how lucky I am to have my Dad. There is a quote out there that someone once said that I love to hate, if that makes sense.

“Any man can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a Dad!”

Why do I hate it? Because, maybe any man can be a father, but should they? I will allow you to form your own answer to that. Moving along, I love it because there is something so genuinely special about the word “Dad.”

My Dad has been everything that Paisley says and more. My never ending life-line, my support, my goldmine of information that I wouldn’t have without him, the challenge I need when I don’t think I can try anymore, my cheerleader (without the uniform) and the greatest source of love. The best part, he does all of this willingly. There is no law that tells him he has to, no ruling by a judge necessary, no police involvement – no drama whatsoever. To know that a man cares so much about me and has raised me to be just like him (sometimes that is a little scary but mostly good) without any need to do so, that is truly beautiful, and I could never be more thankful or lucky.

So, a little louder for the people in the back, thank you – to the real men who have stood up when others couldn’t be bothered. To the men who have taken care of children they didn’t have to take care of but they chose to. The men who gave nothing but love to a child who might not have gotten that had they not been around. And in my very special case, to a man who is still there and has made his child so confident and so ready to take on anything and everything life throws her way.