The day I came home from the hospital, my dad went around to every single house in our neighborhood and showed off his very first daughter. I was born on Father’s Day, and being his first, I’m sure it was a blessing. Little did I know was how great of a blessing my dad would be later on in my life.

Now, being a Junior in college, I have found full appreciation for how incredible the man I call my dad is. I will be forever grateful for how he raised me. Growing up, I was never “babied.” Spoiled in some sense, yes, but babied, never. My dad taught me each and every day that life was never about giving up, and that if I wanted to grow as a person, I had to do hard things. I was never taught to “go the easy way out.” But instead, encouraged to choose paths that would force my internal growth as my own person.

Through a few years of dating, my view on guys is not especially positive. I’ve had my fair share of confusion and heartbreak, to say the very least. My dad is the first person I call, and the first person I turn to in the face of heartbreak. The greatest thing I’ve learned is that I know my dad will never leave me, never neglect me, and never purposefully mistreat me. I don’t know how I’ll ever find someone who will love me as much as my dad loves me, or as much as he loves my own mom. Measuring up will be so difficult, if not nearly impossible.

The greatest type of people are those who have seen the very worst of you, yet love the very best of you. My dad has definitely proved to be one of these people. He’s seen my every flaw and failure, and continues to be right there alongside me through everything. He constantly offers me a helping hand, no matter what own personal struggle he is going through himself. I’ve never known someone to fully set aside their own selfish desires for someone they love as much as him. His dedication to my entire family is seen through his every decision, and every personal action. Yeah, he may not be perfect, but he’s pretty close.

Dad, I pray that I find someone like you someday. I pray that God opens that door a few years down the road, and gives me a man who will make me a first priority the way you do. I hope I find someone who treats me like a princess, just like you have done. And when I bring this man home, I pray that you adore him the way I will. I pray that you become his friend, and that you share the same desires and priorities. And the day that this man asks for my hand in marriage, I pray that you cry tears of joy, knowing that you will be giving me away to a man who deserves to know my heart. The day that you know he’s the one, is the day I’ll know as well.

I have no words to describe my appreciation, but I just want to say thank you. Thanks for lending your constant time, devotion, and even money when you can afford it, and when I need it the most. Thanks for proving to me that there are good men in the world, and that they aren’t all the same. I hope and pray that I find someone just like you someday.

And I definitely know I will, even if finding him will take time. You proved to be the greatest example. Thanks, daddy.