Dear Daddy,
Until I came to college, I was under the impression every little girl grows up with a man like you in their home. Always ready and willing to kill the spiders and hunt for boogers. I was under the assumption every young lady had a guardian at home ready and willing to pick her up, wherever she might be, if she ever found herself in a situation she shouldn’t be in. I thought everyone had a safe place for not only themselves, but for their mother as well, because of their father.
You also always listened to whatever it was I had to say. If I was talking about my day at school, you were enthralled. If I was telling you about my Pinterest boards, you nodded your head. If I was going on and on about the drama of my friends, you were right there with me. You never once told me I was boring you. You wanted to hear whatever it was I had to say, about whatever it was I wanted to talk about. You never made me feel as if I was unimportant. I was your daughter and what I thought mattered to you. My endless chatter soon turned into the conversations of an adult, but because you thought what I had to say had worth and value, I did too. If you had not thought to take the time to listen and answer my silly questions when I was little, I would be afraid to ask the big questions of big people now. Thank you for giving me that confidence.
Daddy, thank you for showing me that a man who knows how to fix cars, work a farm, and stand his ground, can also do the laundry, cook supper, and help his wife quilt. Gender roles did not exist in our house because of you and my mother. This may have given me unrealistic expectations, but I would take that any day over having a father who refused to do what he believed to be women’s work. Because of you, I know I can do anything I put my mind to, regardless of who is “supposed” to do it in society’s eyes.
Daddy, I now know that not everyone had what I had. Not everyone had a father who was as gentle, kind, and caring as you were, as you still are. No matter what I have done, I know there is a deep unshakable place where you will still be there as the calm in my storm. Not every girl has that enormous blessing. When I come home, I feel safe and loved. It has a magic all its own that I know will be there no matter what.
If I have never told you thank you for being one of the best men I have ever had the privilege to meet, if I have never expressed my gratitude for all the sacrifices you have made for me, if I have never told you how much I love you, please know how much I love you. There are women and girls all over the world who are in situations that are nothing short of heartbreaking, but as for the grace of God and my earthly father go, I don't.
Thank you, daddy. For everything.
