One less girl...

My dearest Rebekah,


Your mom asked me last night, "what are you most excited about with having a daughter?" And my response was that there will be one less girl who does not know her father's love. There will be one less girl who does not know how beautiful she truly is. There will be one less girl who is desperately searching for others approval. That one less girl is you my darling daughter.

I see so many young women broken and empty because they seek to fill the love of a father with the love of this world. And it is no substitution at all.  They are filled with self-doubt, insecurity, fear, and pain. But, you have no need to consume yourself with these things, because God has loved you since the beginning of time. And we love because he first loved us.  You see, it is because our Heavenly Father loved my mother, and she loved me, and now I am able to love your mother and you. Without God's love, none of us would know what love is.

It is my job as your father to teach you of this heavenly love, this Agape. To be an example, to you and your mother, of how much a father can love, so that you will more fully grasp how much God loves.  I know that there will be times when I fail at this. But, I will ask for your forgiveness and strive to fall asleep a better dad then I was when I woke up.

Keep growing strong and beautiful my precious daughter. Know that you will be one less girl wandering this world not knowing of the love that comes from her father.  You will be one less girl that believes that the outside appearance is what is most valuable.  You will be one less, because I love you.

-Daddy