Hello son...

It's been a long time coming... but it seems just like yesterday.

Today is going to be one of those days. One of those days that you file away and remember. And I'm glad you could be here for it.

Sometime in the last two decades a thought began forming. When it first began forming it wasn't so detailed. In fact, it could have been characterized more by what I hoped against more than what I hoped for. But as time has marched along, more and more clarity has come. This thought has never been so pressing that it dominated all others. Yet, it has always demanded some of my thought life.

When I met my daughter for the first time, my life changed. There are three arrows in my quiver, and I would fight for them all... but there is this dynamic that occurs between daddies and daughters. It has been a beautiful ride, these last twenty years. I can remember promising her on one of our late night walks through the house, as I held her head in the palm of one hand and her bottom in the other, that I would only give her the best I could give her.

It's a tricky business deciding what kind of man you want for your daughter. It forces you to reevaluate how you've treated young ladies in your own life. I used to wonder why some fathers looked at me the way they did. Looking at my daughter, I came full circle. I also tried not to preconceive socioeconomic, or even culturally profile. Yes, sir...it's a tricky business indeed.

Eventually, you realize it's not about what YOU want anyway...

I would like to tell you that I have enjoyed getting to know you. I liked you pretty much from the first time I met you. I'm glad I had the opportunity to get to know you and see what a hard working and straight up young man you are. I learned that I could trust you to do what you said you were going to do, even in the small things. And it's interesting that SK took to you even more quickly.

I have to tell you that I never saw it coming. I never imagined that you might be the one early on. But I also have to tell you that you have undoubtedly become the one. (Good thing, huh?)

It's not important, but you fulfill so many of the points on my twenty-year-old checklist. But, what is more important, you have captured her heart.

I have watched you two. Closely. And I smile...

So, today life changes for all of us. It has been easier than I imagined to learn to share her with you, but still so hard to let go of her attention. She has been daddy's girl... it would be hard to find anybody to argue with that. The truth is, I have been girl's daddy, too. We have laughed until we cried about things no one else understood. We have shared a love of music no one else would listen to with us. We have communicated with out words for most of her life.

But I want you to know, I welcome you. I am excited for you both. I can't wait to see the life you create together, following the One who creates through you both.

You see, the thought has gained clarity. The man I was looking for turned out to be a little taller than I first imagined!

But God has helped me see, you are the man He was looking for. You make my daughter happy. You aren't afraid to help her, even to your own hurt. You do have her best interests at heart. You are all the things that I could have ever hoped for my daughter.

I know it's one of those weird, awkward things... all of us working together, and trying to keep it separate from the family we've become together. But once again, you have found a simple grace and walked it through.

So, later today the rest of the world will get to publicly see you waiting for my daughter and I at the end of that aisle. I understand and rejoice that you two will be impatiently waiting for that short walk to be over so you can get on with the rest of your lives together. Just be patient with me if I make it as slow as I can... this day has been twenty years in the making for me...

And if, in the hustle and bustle and activity that goes with this special day. If everyone else wants your attention and wants to talk, its fine. But I don't want to miss the opportunity to tell you...

Hello son...