I feel like everyone has things in their lives that can always, instantly bring them to tears. It may be movies about dogs (and inevitability, their deaths). It may be a song that brings back a memory of a time in your life, or a person you lost. It may be military homecomings, sweet commercials, or elderly couples. For me, it’s cards from my parents. I was specifically reminded of this when I received a card from my dad and a few from mom this week. My mom was in town for a few days and when I got home from taking her to the airport, I found this card on my desk.

My eyes welled up. Maybe it was because I felt that I hadn’t gotten to see her during her time in town as much as I would have liked. Maybe it was the thought that even in the time we did get together I was often stressed, not cherishing the time I had with her. Or, maybe it was just the reminder that she has loved me, since before I was born, and she truly will always love me. That’s a mother’s love, unconditional, unending, deeper than those of us who aren’t mothers can imagine.

A few days later I got this card in the mail, an early birthday card from my dad. So often you’ll receive a card and it will have all these nice things written on the front by some nice person in the Hallmark card writing office and on the inside the only thing in handwriting will be a signed name. That’s not how cards from my dad come. They have all the nice things from Mr. Hallmark, but then there’s a novel on the inside, in my dad’s writing, meant for me, just for me. I was going to try to explain what these cards say, how special they are, but I realized I should just let his writing speak for itself.

Darling Chrissie –

Thinking about you this morning as I write this card, the phrase from Ephesians 3:20 comes to mind, “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Such is the sweet and precious gift God has given to me (and to so many others!) in you! I could never have imagined how much joy and blessing God had given to your momma and me when I first held you on the day you were born :). In so many beautiful ways, I see our Lord Jesus revealing His love and life in you. In every part of your life, you are a “sweet fragrance of Christ” (II Cor. 2:14-15) to others, pointing them to Jesus, and bringing honor to Him. That, above all else, is His purpose for each of our lives, and I am so thankful to Him for how clearly and beautifully He is revealing and fulfilling that Christ-honoring purpose in you. So, thank you, Lord Jesus, for giving Chrissie to me and to all of us whom you are loving each day through her. “Immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine!” I love you, sweet Chrissie, more than words can say.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart <3

Love, Always and Forever, 

Daddy
XXOO

P.S.”I have no greater joy than to know my children are walking in the truth.” :) III John, vs 4 :) Smiling right now thinking of the picture of you crawling on me (being a sweet little “barnacle”) at Yosemite :) and a million other memories and pictures of you imprinted in my memory and heart <3 So Thankful!! Philippians 1:3,6 

Love you sweet Chrissie XXOO

This Little Love Story isn’t about me… and it’s not even about my dad. It’s about the love of a father for his daughter. At most of our weddings we see a sweet relationship between a father and his daughter, with tear-filled hugs and father-daughter dances. But at some, tears stream down the bride’s cheeks as her father makes his welcome toast, because it’s the first time she’s heard him say that he is proud of her, and that he loves her, since she was a little girl. Most heart-breaking of all are the weddings where the father is absent, whether it be because he has chosen not to be there, or because he has passed, there is something missing on that day.

Dads, tell your daughters that you love them, that you’re proud of them. It means more than you could ever know.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1)