I think the first time I realized what I may have missed was not until a few years ago. I watch the President's tenderness with his girls, a co-worker who treats his girls in such a way that I couldn't have imagined at the ages of 6 & 8. He 'dates' them (lunches w/them separately, after any school play, etc., he's off stage w/an arm full of flowers). His reason for being so attuned is that he wants them to know how it is to be treated by a man. In their futures, when they run into a man that doesn't measure up to the worth their daddy taught them, prayerfully, they'll turn away.
When I watched my sister-n-law dance with her father at her & my brother's wedding, she was truly his princess.
Would I have made more careful choices in the men in my life had I a father who 'dated' me? Yes, I am blessed with six men (my brothers) who gave 'big brother' warnings, but it was not the same as hearing from a clear male figure in my life. Getting warnings & threats about boys/men kept me away for sure, but no one ever taught me what to do with my heart from a man's perspective. I fumbled into adulthood full of unsurety about men.
Happy Father's day to all fathers who are reading. And if it isn't too late in time, date your daughter so she won't write a post like this one day :-)
Pictures; Internet Courtesy
I know exactly what you mean on this one. My dad was pretty much out of my day to day life by the time I was 8 years old. He worked odd hours before that and he was never what you would have called cuddly. We didn't develope a good relationship at all until I was grown and he was dying. When I think of how it could have been....
ReplyDeleteSharon