Prince Charming is My Father

Cinderella used our house to get ready for the ball last weekend. Except instead of being taunted and ridiculed by her evil stepmother and stepsister, she was fussed over, pampered and polished by her doting mother and older sister.

When she finally emerged from her chambers into full view of Prince Charming, who was eagerly awaiting her arrival, she was radiant, beaming, and yes, giggling.

Prince  Charming, standing tall and proud in his tuxedo, may have had a tear in his eye.

Then, after succumbing to the paparazzi, off they rode in their carriage to dinner and then the ball, to dance and cherish one another for the next few hours.

Okay, so maybe it wasn't quite a carriage. It was actually my teenage son's new old 1994 Pontiac Sunbird. But the rest of my story is true.

They were on their way to the father/daughter Valentine dance put on by Alleluia Community's Little Sisters program, where every fourth and fifth grade girl became Cinderella for the evening, and every father became her very own Prince Charming.

This may seem silly, but there is such wisdom and richness in the practice of father's "dating" their daughters. Little girls have no idea what it is like to be out on a date, unless they experience it first hand. Fathers can and should teach their daughters what it feels like to be cherished, protected, and loved by a Godly man, and yes, fathers need to model the man they hope their daughters will marry some day. Fathers need to see themselves through their daughter's eyes.

And it is never too early to start. Fathers, cherish your daughters from the moment they are born!

 I will gladly allow my daughters to "date" the second man to earn my stamp of approval.  And to the first man I say, "Thank you, Dad, for setting the bar so high; Andy is so much like you!"