A Penny for Your Thoughts

My Dearest Rebekah,

For the past three weeks, you have been alive. And for the past three weeks you have been in my thoughts all day long. It is still somewhat surreal that I am a father. But, my love for you grows everyday, just like you do. You are already holding your head up for a few seconds, usually followed by my trying to stop you from slamming it into my shoulder.  You are so beautiful. A perfect creation of God.

Most mornings you and I sit in the rocker and watch the sunrise toghether.  We share our thoughts... well I share, you mostly grunt or make cute baby noises. But this morning we just stared into each other's eyes as I held you tight in my arms.  And I wondered what is going through your mind?  What thoughts does my not-even-three-week-old daughter have? Are you aware of what is around you? Do you know that I am your daddy? Do you know how much you bless me? I wonder who you will become. The things that will interest you. Your passions in life. But there is one thing that I will never have to wonder.

I will never have to wonder if you are loved. If you are cared for. If you know that you are beautiful, inside and out. I will never have to guess if you are on the path God has designed just for you. Thoughts about picking the right friends will not have to be on my list of things to worry about. Because I will show you every single day how much I love you. You will be reminded of your beauty constantly. We will go to our Lord as a family to seek His will for us.

I will never wonder if I am a good enough father. Becasue "good enough" is not good enough for me. Being an okay dad is an insult to me. You deserve great. You deserve Godly. And that is what I will strive for. That is what I will work towards. That is what I will achieve for you my sweet daughter. Nothing less than what my heavenly Father requires and expects from me. That is what you will get. Every single day of your life.

However, on my quest to deliver on this promise, I will fall many times. In this times, forgiveness is what I will desire from you. My pride will need to be laid aside when I have wronged you or your mother in any way. Mercy. Grace. Love.  Forgiveness in my moments of weakness. Growth together as father and daughter towards our strength in Christ Jesus. I am not perfect, and will never confess to being so. But, in God, I can be the perfect dad for you and the perfect husband for your mother. No less will do for me.

My prayer for you my sweet child is that you will know that you are loved every time our stares interlock. Every time you are in my arms. Every dream as you sleep and every thought when you are awake. Continue to grow strong and beautiful my precious blessing. And always know that your father on earth and your Father in heaven love you so very much.

-Daddy