Have you ever heard the song that Brad Paisley sings, “He Didn’t Have To Be?” That’s my Daddy. 

Let me tell you a little about him. 

I remember the first time I met my dad.  I was 6 years old, and he had come to my mom’s birthday party, I thought he was the funniest, coolest person I’d ever met.  He had brought some magic tricks with him for the kids at the party.  Then the first date the three of us went on was hilarious!  We went skating.  You’re thinking how is that hilarious?  Let me set the scene up…I had never been skating in my life, mom hadn’t been in years and wasn’t good at it to say the least.  Dad?  Let’s just say he wasn’t exactly forthcoming in his abilities.  So off we went, the three of us holding hands, falling down A LOT, Dad was between us when he starts to fall again.  At this point we have learned that if we are holding hands and one goes, we all go down, so quickly we let go of his hands….and amazingly he catches himself and then skates off…BACKWARDS!! Lol, yep, he was an amazing skater, had worked at a skating rink during high school.

As most teens don’t appreciate their parents, that was true of me.  When I was a teenager, I was going through a time of wondering who I am…who my birth father was…. You see, Allen and my mom divorced when I was a baby, and I didn’t know him growing up.  I had a couple of pictures of him from when I was a baby but that was it.  He and mom weren’t together long so she didn’t know much about him.  I desperately wanted/needed to know.  I thought that if I had those answers, I would be complete.  I didn’t realize then that I had the absolute BEST Daddy a girl could ever ask for right there in my own home. Dad supported me in my wanting to search, I’m sure it hurt him, but he was wonderful and stood by me.

Now, at 56, I look back and see so clearly what I missed as a teenager. In all the years I spent searching for pieces of myself in the idea of my birth father, the love and devotion I needed were right there, waiting for me. It took time and perspective to realize how much he truly meant to me—how he was there for the milestones, the laughter, the tears, and all the little moments in between. I know now how blessed I am that God sent him to my mom and to me.  You see, she wasn’t a Christian at the time, but she would pray “If there really is a God, send someone who will love Missy as much as he does me.”  God did!!  Dad has never treated me as any less of a daughter than his other 5 girls.  In fact, I am confident I am the favorite! 

He didn’t have to be my dad—but I can’t imagine life any other way. I love you, Dad, and I thank God every day that He sent you just for me.