Fathers and Daughters
I have two young daughters, 6 and 3, who I love very much. I love to date my girls each separately to make it that much more special. I heard a well known speaker say, “If you reject your daughter, she’s likely to spend her life trying to find a man who can meet the needs you never fulfilled in her heart.” I usually give them the choice of where to go/what to do. They love to choose. What I see in my girls is self-worth starting to take hold and build. I hope that these dates will begin to establish an example of how a future husband should treat them, if they choose to marry.
If you are a daughter, how was your upbringing and relationship with your father? If you are a father of a daughter, what is your relationship like? What can you do better to prepare your daughter for a successful marriage?
Here is a prayer I like to pray: God, I want my girls to know how much I love and value them. Let my every word and action encourage them and help shape them into the woman You want them to be.
Parenting is not always easy and I know that I have made many mistakes and will still make mistakes as a father. However, I will strive to make less and less of the same mistakes.
- Written by Todd Baughman
May 11th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
My father and I have never been close. He abandoned us when I was just a little older than Rayn. My mother then married an abusive man, who I grew up to resent. (She is now happily married to a wonderful man.)
There is nothing that touches my heart more than watching a father play and laugh with their daughter. I always knew that I would not enter into a relationship with someone who wouldn’t be a good father to their daughter. I couldn’t bear to do that to them.
Thank you to all of the fathers who cherish their daughters. You have no idea of the impact that your relationship with have on them 20 years from now.
June 1st, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Meg Meeker, M.D., wrote a book entitled “Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: Ten Secrets Every Father Should Know”. I’m far from perfect but these are ten charges I do my best to keep:
Teach her who God is
1) You are the most important man in her life
2) Be her hero
3) You are her first love
4) Teach her humility
5) Protect & defend her
6) Show pragmatism & grit
7) Be the man you want her to marry
9) Teach her to fight
10) Keep her connected