Is Any Father EVER Ready?

This weekend, a good friend of mine, Andrea, got married. She asked if I would do the rehearsal dinner photos, and of course I said yes. While Andrea and Matt were running through everything (practicing their vows, lighting the unity candle, speaking with the minister) I noticed Andrea's father. There he sat...so serious.

I couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind. For the second, and last, time in his life, he would walk one of his daughter's down the aisle. What's it like for a dad to escort his daughter to her future husband? Being a mother, I'll never know that feeling. Andrea's dad joked at the rehearsal, "Don't bring her back." It was a good way to break the tension. Everyone laughed, but on the inside, I know he was probably saying, "Please don't go. Not just yet." Of course, you always want what is best for your child: An adoring spouse, a happy life...

but...

there's always got to be that small part of a father's heart that wants to keep his daughter to himself. Unselfishly, he pushes that need aside to share his love with someone else. Daddy gives up being the first person called in times of trouble, the first person called to help. He resigns many of his duties to another man. Is any father ever ready for this?

Probably not.

As it turned out, Andrea wasn't the only daughter to walk down the aisle this weekend. Gabriella had the honor of being the flower girl in the ceremony. In order to get her down the aisle, Rick, on bended knee, waited for her. He waited, with his arm stretched out and a cookie in his hand! She walked to him. She walked to him because he is her Daddy and what daughter doesn't long for her Daddy as she walks down the aisle. I don't know if Gabriella will ever be a flower girl again, but if she's not, then the next time she's walking down an aisle at a wedding she won't be walking to her Father.

She'll be walking beside him.

I see God in the love between a father and his daughter.

Hope you have a fabulous week,

Mary