The Heart. Again.

A Father’s Perspective on Letting Go, Holding On, and Trusting God Anyway

Some moments stick with you. Not because they were loud, but because they whispered something eternal. This is one of those moments.

Perspective

Twenty years ago, my daughter was five. She brought a goodie bag to church after a birthday party. Inside was a small plastic red heart. Just before communion, she sat in the front pew, pulled out the heart, held it gently, kissed it, bowed her head, and prayed.

Then she handed it to me. I did the same thing. She passed it to her brothers, and watched them do the same. Nobody asked questions. Nobody laughed. It was holy, somehow. I remembered just how special that tender moment was for me. In God’s home I witnessed an angel blessing us with her sincerity.

I didn’t know then that this little girl’s heart, that tiny moment, would stay with me for the rest of my life. It was love in its purest form. Unfiltered. Unashamed. Faith as a five-year-old sees it. God has away of leaving impressions on us when we see Him in such moments.

Fast forward to last year. She’s now a young woman. I watched her get baptized. It was awesome. My journal this morning reminded me of this and triggered this post today.

Tears hit me quick. Not because it was a proud moment, although it was. But because of the weight it carried. I remembered the heart. I remembered the girl. And I remembered the struggle.

Life hasn’t been easy for her. She’s wrestled with many things and yet here she was, choosing Jesus. Publicly. Bravely. Completely.

In that moment, I felt the release. She is moving toward her true Father now. The One who can carry her where I can’t. The One who always could. It really does hit you when you realize, just like I needed God, she does as well. While she is my child she was His first.

As dads, we feel like it’s our job to fix. Protect. Provide. But God is showing me that sometimes the most loving thing we can do is step back. Pray hard. Let go.

So I did and still do!

That’s not a one-time prayer. That’s an everyday one.

I pray for my entire family often. If you aren’t for yours you need to start. You need to make that part of who you are and petition the Father on their behalf. It works and I’ve witness Him working in that daughter of mine. That angel God sent my way so many years ago. I’ve seen it happen in my sons and my wife as well.

So to the fathers out there, especially the ones who feel helpless or unsure, your job isn’t to be the Savior. It’s to point to Him. If you’ve done that, you’ve done your part.

Let go. Love big. Pray often. Trust deep.

God’s got them.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, do what only You can do. Give her healing. Give her peace. Surround her with people who love You and love her. Give her a future filled with joy, purpose, and grace. I trust You with her. I pray this in the name of Jesus my Savior and Lord. Amen.