Why a daughter needs a Daddy........
to learn that when he says it will be okay soon, it will.
to make sacrifices so she will not have to sacrifice.
to always have time to give her hugs and kisses.
to be the one who does not mind when she steps on his shoes while dancing
to be the one who will make sure she has a place to come home to, always.
to be the one who will never think she is too old to need him.
to teach her to believe that she deserves to be treated well.
to teach her to weigh the consequences of her actions and make decisions accordingly.
to protect her, sometimes from herself.
to answer the questions that keep her awake at night.
to know what it is like to be somebody's favorite.
to make the complex simple and the painful bearable.
to tell her all is not hopeless, even when she feels it is.
to join her journey when she is too afraid to walk alone.
to teach her the meaning of integrity, and how to avoid the crooked path.
to tell her truthfully that she is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen.
to teach her that family is more important than work but that it is work that makes family life easier.
to show her how it feels to be loved unselfishly and unconditionally.
to be the standard against which she will judge all men.
to teach her the difference between being firm and being stubborn
to teach her that she is equal to her husband.
to teach her that respect is to be earned, as he has earned hers.
to help her learn what she should expect from her husband.
to teach her how to be responsible for others.
to teach her to preserve her dignity during difficult times.
to help her believe in herself as a parent, and that in discipline there is hope.
to be the one who will influence her life even when he isn't with her.
to live in a way so that she will have at least one hero who will not let her down.
to tuck her in at night.
to protect her when she is not wise enough to protect herself.
to teach her to be honest in all her dealings.
to teach her patience and kindness.
to teach her when to be firm and when to compromise.
to help her try again whenever she fails.
to help her take the risks that will build her confidence.
to prepare her to persevere through hardship.
to be the man who will let her know that while she may not be the center of someone elses world, she is the center of his.
to give her the guidance she needs as she begins to resolve her own troubles.
to pull her back when she is headed in the wrong direction.
to think highly of her when no one else will.
to hold her as she cries.
to be the history of her family for her own children.
to teach her what it means to always be there.
to teach her that a man's strength is not the force of his hand or his voice, but the kindness of his heart.
to teach her to recognize the truth and reward it.
to teach her to recognize sincerity and encourage it.
to teach her about fairness.
to teach her to stand up for herself.
to remind her of what she may not remember.
to give her gentle pushes that help her grow.
to remind her that when no one else is there for her, she can close her eyes and see him.
to carry her just because she wants to be carried.
to share with her the wisdom she has not yet acquired.
to calm her when she is stressed by challenges.
to be the man who teaches her she is important by stopping what he is doing to watch her.
to give her a strong, willful character.
to build a loving house on a foundation of wisdom and understanding
to help around the house so that one day she will have pride in her own home and the way it is kept.
to teach her that her role in a family is greater that the work she does, yet the work she does is what helps makes her family prosper.
to help her become the best mother she can be.
to teach her how things work.
to show her how to fix things for herself.
to indulge her passion, with the things she loves most. (Monday Mornings!)
to teach her the importance of being a lady.
to be the man who gives her refuge in a home secured with faith.
to teach her that ignorance is not an excuse for anything.
to teach her not to let pride get in the way of discovering new things.
to teach her to experiment for the sake of testing her own assumptions.
to show her how proud he is of the woman she has become.
to put those she loves and their needs before her own, as it brings joy.
to teach her how to focus her mind in the midst of distraction.
to teach her the joy of serving others.
to show her that true love is unconditional.
to tell her all she needs to know about boys.
to show her that all men are not like the one who hurt her.
to teach her how to recognize a gentleman.
to show her that she deserves a man who would lay down his life for her.
to teach her to recognize that a real man would never ask her to give up something she loves.
to teach her how a man should be encouraged to reach for his dreams.
to show her how to walk beside her husband, as the Lord expects.
to remind her that her husband deserves to be admired and respected.
to show her that loving her family is a priority.
to teach her that a joyful heart is filled with peace.
to teach her when to be cautious.
to teach her that God must be the center of her life.
to show her the power of prayer.
to understand the importance of marrying your best friend.
to stand with her on the day she marries the man, she hopes will be just like her father.
to help her raise her children with strong family and biblical values.
to help her find her way in life.
to show her the benefits of hard work.
to help her recognize that if she does something she loves, it's not work.
to teach her to spend responsibly, to save for a rainy day, and to give with a generous heart.
to help her finish her work when she is too weary to finish it herself.
to be the man who lives with integrity, so she learns that men can be trustworthy.
to teach her to be content with her own company and to appreciate the time she spends alone.
to be a an example in his marriage, so she learns that a godly woman not only submits to God but to her husband as well.
to show her how a man so treat a woman, because without that example, she will have less in her life than she deserves.
to know he would never criticize the one she loves.
to know that once he is gone, she will always remember the things he has taught her.
to always remember that she was one of the best things in his life!
Although in my heart I know, that the man I call Daddy really died last year, when he was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. I say this because he has no quality of life, as he has spent multiple days every week in the doctors office, fighting the good fight. He has nothing left in his life that he loves except his family. It is hard to watch him be so angry and continue to fight when he is in so much pain. Thank You for being the man God sent you here to be and know that your daughter learned your life lessons well. Thank you for teaching me that life doesn't have to be ordinary. Thank you for sharing your Monday mornings with me and taking me all over the world to indulge my passion of riding horses. Thank you for teaching me how blessed I am to have had such a wonderful life, even though I have suffered hardships I would never wish on anyone. Thank you for teaching what love is and has the power to do. God Bless You and keep you. Know I love you with all that I am.
Rest In Peace
Charles Thomas Autry
May23, 1940-August 12, 2010Forever Your Daughter....
Astro, The Redneck Princess
