Tough Exterior, Tender Heart Still Valued

It was an amazing thing for me today.  I went into the neighborhood Target (really nice store, this one's always clean) to get a Father's day card for my father and my brother, and much to my surprise as I began walking up to the huge display of cards I saw six women.  A daughter -possibly, a daugther-in-law -possibly, a sister -perhaps, a mom -no doubt, a wife -perhaps and a grandmother -I surmise...looking at the cards for fathers.  These women didn't appear bitter, bothered, resentful, without cause, without care.  Instead they briefly made me think, smile, ponder and wonder what types of daughters they might be? Yes, each of them was a daughter, the other titles as I've aforementioned are acquired, but the exactness of their being was a daughter.  Maybe a daddy's girl, maybe a grand daughter, possibly a niece, an aunt, a great grand daughter or an adopted young woman; but most assuredly a daughter.  Someone's daughter, thinking of their father, husband, grandfather, brother, nephew or brother-in-law.  On fathers day.  When so many have had less than perfect relationships, agonizing events, less of the presence of, strong yet gentle figures of men who have been visible no matter the season.

Today made me think of how precious a daughter was to a father, or how important this day meant to those women that took the time, effort and care to hand pick, select with attention to and pick the best expression of the "almost right words" to say, in a card big or small, funny or serious, to a father. A father in their lives, or a father figure who meant something, who left such an impression on them that their hearts led them to that special meeting place.  A meeting of the cards, a meeting of the heart, a meeting of expression a place where many by choice could go to extend just a "little bit more of how they felt" no matter what the card had to say inside.  Of course it wouldn't be perfect unless they had time with meticulous detail go through almost every card that made them smile, laugh, think, sigh or stand for minutes on end in front of the huge card display of cards for fathers.  Yes, no mistake...these cards were for fathers.  

The problem for me? None. I just couldn't get to the cards that I saw.  I couldn't even get close enough to start extending my hand to pick up a card to read and choose for my dad and my brother.  So what did I do? I left without a card. Laughing softly, amazed at what I just witnessed, such a powerful realization in a time and society that gives little credit to fathers. A time in which the media portraits fathers in a bad light, TV shows and alike that discount the importance of fathers. I was pleasantly touched by these six women.  I never spoke to any of them, none of them turned around to see who was behind them, none moved very far away from the display to let others in to also select from the display, but that was perfectly fine. How dare I interrupt the moment, the father moment, the moment that meant volumes in terms of why they were there today.  No discounting those fathers who are missed by their daughters because of a premature death, or military standing, service to their country, fighting to protect us. These six women may have possibly carried many things within their thoughts as to the reason they had congregated without knowing one another, never speaking to each other, yet with one cause, individual, yet their presence spoke to me in volumes without even knowing me.  I went on to another location where I could do much of the same by finding the best card that expressed my thoughts concerning my dad and my brother.

Yeah, our dads, or fathers, the tough exterior some of us know well.  Resilient, authoritative, leaders, not so great leaders, stubborn, loving, firm-handed, decisive, patient, impatient, gruff, tall, short, with love handles, lean, positive, negative, no matter.  Yet the one thing we all can understand is although the exterior of our fathers may be tough looking, if the heart is ever read well (as most daughters learn to master), then it brings great value to the heart of a daughter.  Why am I talking about daughters, well...although I didn't have a sister growing up, my brother and I have seen many situations such as I've described to you above.  Daughters who love their daddy's, where the heart -daddy's heart is still valued.

I wouldn't know what a daughter's heart toward her daddy feels like or doesn't feel like, but as a son I know my dad's heart.  I love my dad, I value my dad, good or not great, whether he's done many things for me or very few. Today is not just fathers day, it's a day where the heart is still valued.