I have the blessing of having three teenage daughters. My role was pretty clear when they were little - I did what their wonderful mom told me to do. Come to think of it...I still do that. However things have changed. They don't really like me to pick them up and carry them around. There have been no diapers or car seats for a long long time. My girls no longer want to play with little race cars. I don't hold their hand too much anymore and they no longer put on dress-up clothes and do a theatrical production for mom and dad. Now they dress up to go out on dates!! In short my girls are taking flight. What is a dad to do? What do I do with these same hands that a short season ago locked with theirs as they took two or three steps, to my every one? Hands that helped them make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?
I don't know that I have it all figured out, but this is what I will do. I will applaud! I will cheer! I will encourage! I will exhort! In fact I am compelled to do nothing less. I will smile a smile that only proud dads smile! I will pump my fist and yell go! I will join my hands to reflect a prayer of thanks and a prayer of guidance! I will wave my arms so that they know I am here! I will point to each one and gladly say, "That's my girl!"