Two Girls

     Walking into the front room tonight I gazed at our Christmas tree for the last time. I noticed also my two girls, keeping up with one of their traditions that they have kept for years. You see, on the night before Christmas, as well as the night before we put up our Christmas stuff. they sleep on the sofas in the front room before the tree.

     They have done this for a long time. I remember a day when they were so little that they would both only take up one sofa. Tonight is not such a night, as each one pretty well takes up one sofa. They are growing up so quickly.

     I know that I don't have many more days like this. I watched over them for a few minutes. I was reminded of how time has flown by as we start this new year. I have seen their births, first steps, grade school, junior high, high school and even the oldest finishing her first semester of college. (OK don't worry I am not going to sing Sunrise, Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof. My sweet girls would kill me on the spot.)

     The point is, I have watched them. I have seen them fall. The girls have done wrong. The girls have even fought with each other for no reason at all. Hurtful words have gone forth and a thousand other things. Then, there are those moments you live for as a parent. I have seen them share and care for others. As a Dad, I have never been prouder of them then when they have taken stands for the Lord. I have also tried to be there for them when those stands have even cost them their friends. I want to hold them and care for them even more.

     Looking at them on the sofas, like a lot of Fathers, I dread seeing them get older. The Lord knows that I don't want to let them go away. Like you, I have seen the world and sometimes how cruel it can be. The other side of the story as strange as it sounds, I want them to go. They are no longer girls but young women of God. I get excited when I hear about their dreams. I want them to make an impact on the world for Jesus. I want them to mature, fall in love and be all that the Lord wants them to be.

     As a father, I have purposed in my heart to root for them. I will always love them no matter where they go, or even what they will do. They are Julie's and my life. They are our greatest joy. I am willing to talk to anyone about them at any time. No matter how old they get they will always be my two girls.

     By now, you have probably figured out where I am going with all of this. You see, we have a Father who has always been looking over us. We were not His children at first. We were born into an entirely different family. Our first father hated us, abused us, mocked us and made us into slaves. The incredible part though is we loved him and gave ourselves totally to him, We hated this other Father who looked upon us with love.

     Amazingly as it sounds the Father still cried out for us. He called us and when we received Him, we were adopted into His family. We are now no longer children of Hell but children of God. He is with us and has seen us grow up before Him. He has seen our first steps, seen our infancy, seen us through our rebellions and even when we fall. Yet, through all of this He still loves us.

     He is crazy about us as His children. What joy it brings to Him when He sees us take our stands. What a blast to hear Him say, "Well done." He rejoices over us with singing. He prepares our meals before us. He guides us and is rooting for us in Heaven to finish the race well.

     I know that I am not a perfect father. OK, there are times I am not even a good father. I mess up, become selfish, sin and blow it with my girls. Yet, the beauty of it all is that these two young women of God do have a perfect Father. He will always do what is right for them. He will always cherish them. They can always put their hands into His hand and know that He will take care of them.

Hadassah and Hannah