Recently, I was in Winn-Dixie near the produce section. In walked one of my most favorite of all people, my Daddy. He looked a bit bewildered because Winn-Dixie is absolutely not his element like the local hardware store would be. I stood quietly, watching him glance at the people milling about. Soon enough, his eyes found mine. He did a double-take as realization hit, and I watched his face transform into that all-familiar precious smile reserved just for me. It didn't matter that I had just seen him the day before. He was so happy to see his baby girl. I took a mental picture of his precious countenance.
On my way home, with groceries in tow, I thought about him, his special smile, how much he loves me...I am special to him. I'm his only daughter. His baby girl. I'm 41. But still his baby girl and he is always happy to see me. I know I haven't been a "sheer delight" to him. I'm quite sure I have disappointed and upset him many times growing up. But he never held back his love for me.
Father whispered to my heart...That's how I feel about you, too, you know! I take great delight in you. You have a special place with me...reserved just for you. I love our relationship...it is unique and unlike anyone else's relationship with me. I love that about us. I never asked you to be perfect...but you're perfectly MINE and you are made perfect in weakness by my strength.
When I was a baby, my Daddy rocked me to sleep every night in the wooden rocking chair. He wrote a little ditty and sang it to me every night.
Daddy's little baby girl, little baby girl.
Daddy's little baby girl, sweetest in the world.
Daddy's little baby girl..Daddy's little baby girl.
Daddy's little baby girl.
It was one of the first songs I learned to sing. Years later, granddaughters were born...my brothers sang the little song to their baby girls. Then the words evolved into...Papa's little baby girl, little baby girl. But the song...it's pretty much mine. Written for me by a daddy who adored his baby girl.
In a Bible study about ten years ago, a mentor friend of mine shared this obscure verse with us. Even as I read it now, I remember the surprised reaction of all the ladies in the room that night when we read this verse:
"The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17.
My precious earthly father may have written me my very own song to sing over me....But our heavenly Father has written a special song for every single one of us. He delights in me. He delights in you.. He is your Heavenly Daddy who adores you and sings over you and quiets you with His love. He is a real and personal Father who desires a relationship with each of us.......with no strings attached, no set of rules to follow, no obligations or preconceived notions.
Just you and Him and a love song.
