Okay, it’s time to get sentimental. If you know me at all you know how much my family means to me. They are the gift greater than all gifts in my life and I cherish each one of them, especially my little girl. While I was growing up I was surrounded by my brother and my parents. So, when my wife and I had two boys, our family seemed very familiar. I was in my domain. It was very comfortable. Then, along came my little girl and life has never been the same.
For most of my life girls have been an unsolvable mystery. Even still I hold this to be true today, but with less intensity than during my youth. During my younger days I was extremely insecure around the opposite sex. I knew they were supposed to be ordinary people like anyone else, but I wasn’t really sure how to act around them. So, with that background in mind, along with my “comfortable” family of three guys and my wife, imagine my thoughts when the doctor cried out, “It’s a girl!”
I cried when my little girl was born. I cried when all of my children were born. As a matter of fact, I don’t see how anyone who witnesses a child being born can keep from crying. Anyway, after I finished crying, I realized what had just happened. I was now the father of a new little girl. The whole idea was just downright crazy! How could I be expected to raise a child of the opposite sex? How could I take care of something or someone that had been so mysterious and alien to me for the majority of my life? Eventually, my anxiety calmed. I realized I was not alone in my new responsibilities. I’m not sure I have ever been more thankful for my wife. After all (stating the absolute obvious) she is a girl! She would know what to do.
As my little girl has grown to the age of six I can truly say that, so far, my fears have been in vain. So far, it has been an amazing adventure to see a girl growing up. There have been tough moments, but there were and are tough moments with my boys, too. The truly amazing thing has been watching my little girl be a little girl, to see the things that set her apart from all of the little boys in the world.
My little girl can make me smile in a way that no one else can. She is delicate and yet very strong. She is dainty while she lifts a twenty pound puppy and carries him to her room. She is gentle unless she is beating up on her older brothers. She works hard when she wants and she does things voluntarily that no one else will do. Granted, she can be stubborn, very stubborn. At times she will take punishment instead of doing what she is told. She will never believe that she cannot do anything and everything her older brothers can do. She loves her friends and her family, and she hates it when people are mean. She wants to dance ballet and take karate. She loves books, soccer, movies, green peas, animals, her mommy, and great big hugs. She also loves to be tickled.
My little girl is special beyond words and for me, to hold her is to embrace heaven. For through her God gives me a treasured glimpse of his unconditional love.
From my desktop to yours, it’s another Alabama memory.
