I heard my husband speak those words today, and they took my breath away. I paused to watch what they did to her.
She found his gaze. A slow smile. A nod. A kiss. And then she was gone, on to living life, which meant at that moment lunch and Phineas and Ferb.
There was no big reaction because there was not a new revelation. Just quiet confidence that Dad still felt the way he has always felt, assurance that comes from knowing you are as loved as you have always been.
But, my heart has been contemplating the many, many grown women who are still walking around wondering what their dads think of them, wondering what it would be like to experience the embrace of approval that has never come.
And so, today, if that's you, you need to know something.
Your Father is completely, 100%, absolutely, and with great certainty enraptured with you. He can't keep His eyes off you, and He is captivated by your beauty, your grace, and the wonderment of you.
If the wounds of this world, or maybe even the wounds of a dad, have kept you from ever realizing this, or you have just forgotten it under the weight of self-doubt or self-loathing, then it is time to step into the embrace of the truth.
Because whether or not you believe it, it is true.
Your Father, the One who created you and knows every detail of your life, is your biggest fan. He believes in you. He adores you. He is convinced you are gifted, and He can not be persuaded otherwise. He is rooting for you, sitting in the bleachers of your life, cheering you on. He talks about you to his friends, pointing out every one of your attributes. He remembers your birthday. He comes to all your parties. He can't wait to see you when you wake up in the morning. He misses you when you don't come around.
He doesn't just love you, he enjoys you.
If you don't believe that, you don't know Him. And He wants you to.
