The commitment of a father...

I have been preparing for fatherhood my whole life.  I just didn’t know it.  As I’ve grown and observed… my own father and fathers around me, they have helped to shape me to be the man and father I am today.  The Great Heavenly Father has taught me so much through our years of struggle, has taught me so much about how hard and how amazing fatherhood would be, can be.  In light of father’s day having just past, I wanted to share a pledge that I wrote years ago…, a vow that I have now made to our daughters.  In part it is a way to keep me accountable to its contents.  You, the interweb of my family and friends shall bare witness just as at any wedding ceremony to the commitment I have made, will uphold daily and will strive for in fatherhood.  In some way too, I hope that we see this as a reflection of the heavenly Father’s commitment to us…

“For as long as I am alive, I pledge to Love, Honor, Provide, Protect and Point you to the Lord.  I don’t even know you yet, but you are in my heart and on my mind.  As it is within my power, no harm will ever come to you again.  I am striving even NOW to bring you home, to find you and bring you to us.  Every day is a fight of patience and waiting, in the unknown and in hope.  

I pledge to you my life.  To live sacrificially that you might thrive and grow and walk intimately with your God.  I promise to give you what you need which may not be what you want.  I pledge to do that which is difficult that you might know the character with which you have been created.  I will not be able to make life easy or luxurious, but it will be abundant and honor the Father’s wishes for you.

You are MY child.  Given as a responsibility to shepherd and a privileged to raise.  I will not forget this.  It is an honor to be your father.  I will strive to represent The Father in all I do, in how I raise you.  You are beloved, wanted, never to be abandoned again.  Welcome home my dear precious one.”

What a great responsibility and privilege to be a father.  What great joy I have when she calls me “daddy”.