by the Night Writer
When my oldest daughter was born, nigh on 20 years ago, they put that tiny little bundle in my arms — arms that had, just a few hours earlier, been lifting furniture and heavy equipment in the delivery room as I tried to vent my anxiety and frustration. The contrast between the weight of those items and her seven measly pounds belied the heavy but invisible mantle that had just been laid across my shoulders.
Our pastor knocked and came into the room about that time and I turned my daughter toward him and said, “Now Faith is” — as in “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). Our little miracle baby, Faith Christine, was amongst us and I had just taken up my first watch.
I thought of this the other day as Ben made his case for how much he admired Faith and, in exchange for my blessing, gave his personal promise to safeguard her heart and well-being, to support her physically, emotionally and spiritually, and to raise my grandchildren in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
I know there are a few people — well, probably many — who question the need or propriety of a would-be husband these days asking his prospective father-in-law for the daughter’s hand in marriage. “Women aren’t chattel to be passed from one patriarch to another!”, or “Doesn’t she have a say in the matter?”, or “What right does Dad have to get in-between young lovers?” Some of the more perceptive might even ask, “Why isn’t he asking both the father and the mother?”
To me it’s all part and parcel of a culture that has grown accustomed to demeaning and diminishing the role of parents, going back to the days when we started saying “Don’t trust anyone over 30,” the presentation of adults (especially dads) as dolts on “family” sit-coms and the cultural and educational conceit that young people are wiser and more informed about “how things really are” than those stick-in-the-mud old folks. As a result we miss, or become uncertain about, certain nuances.
Now, I enjoy playing the role of patriarch and benevolent dictator, but that is because I take it seriously and have not shirked the robe that comes with it. It fits. I have not viewed my daughters as my property to be maximized for the greatest return on investment, or as servants and dependents sent for my own amusement. My wife and I have always realized that we were not owners, but stewards, of what we were entrusted with and we structured our lives and our daughters’ with an eye to providing the things that prepare them for long-term happiness (especially how they can get this themselves), even if it involved some not-so-happy decisions.
I have to say we are well-pleased with the results to date. Yes, Faith is well able to direct her own life, but every woman needs a man in her life who knows her value and is willing to sacrifice for her well-being. Before I cede that position to another I want to be darn sure he knows what is expected.
Ben may not be perfect (he’s got some dents where the University of Hard Knocks has deposited wisdom), but the situation has been nearly ideal. They’ve known each other for almost three years and have progressed gradually from acquaintance to friendship to courtship and now engagement. While they have not been physical, they have been intimate, taking the opportunity to really know each other and weigh their respective characters. Similarly, our family has had the same amount of time (actually, longer) to get to know Ben and make our own evaluation. This isn’t some shaggy freak Faith has drug home from a concert and asked if she can keep him.
So, while my stewardship is not yet finished, its days are clearly numbered. The promised land my daughter and I have been preparing for for so many years is at last on the horizon though, like Moses, I will not cross with her. She will always be my daughter, but then I will have something even better. A friend.
Two, actually.
Excellent post.
that was beautiful.
Given the wonderful person that Faith is today, I can tell you’ve been a great steward, Stewart! 🙂
“Now, I enjoy playing the role of patriarch and benevolent dictator”
LMAO! Did you ever see “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”?
Toula Portokalos: Ma, Dad is so stubborn. What he says goes. “Ah, the man is the head of the house!”
Maria Portokalos: Let me tell you something, Toula. The man is the head, but the woman is the neck. And she can turn the head any way she wants.
That’s all I’m saying.
I used that line about the head and the neck during the Marriageable class this week!
The important thing is that the head and the neck are connected and work as a team.
Nicely said, NW.
I’ve already extended best wishes to Ben &Faith, but congratulations to you and the rest of your (growing) family as well!
As long as you’re certain Ben’s not a shaggy freak… 😉
Heehee! Benny was shaggy a while ago, but never again!
Thanks, Daddy.
That’s a wonderful post, NW. And steward is exactly the right word for it.
Congrats you crazy kids…
A delightful post. May I share something that I used at my daughters wedding:-
My son is my son till he gets him a wife, but my daughters’ my daughter for the rest of her life.
We are excited and pleased about this wonderful development.Faith is a delightful young lady!
Congratulations all around!!
Grandpa Chris and Mater Bird (signing in from the mountains of N.H.)
Pingback: All our best | thenightwriterblog.com
I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
Hot teen girlsxBlack on latina teenEvee plumkb dong porn vkice
oversHairey girls torrentsFree picture teren youngHott tennis upskirt picsFreee scavwnger huynt ifea forr adultNude
teen meen celebritiesArianna joloee shemaleVery yung teen girels spankingGtta vice
ity sexx sceneWeight loss inn adult catsGay yahoo group olderKatelyn nakedToop interesting
porn sitesAdupt masszge parlor local listingsFather daughtsr xxx videoHorn milf tubeAuuto girls nakedSultry xxxCllit torrure ideasTigless young teenBi 3 some sexAdut blak midel womanMiranda kerr nude pornApsolute
errotic hypmo controlMegaman s hentai zoneUber hot amateurViiagra effext porn photos4greedy amateurGayy jobs brisbaneAsss parade torrentDancers pointging toes fertish picturesStrikp
clubs utahDownload porn clips automatic rename filesStrapon femdlm paysitesBreast gaqin lus reviewPaty hous femalkes
sexx picsSexx offernder tretment providers iin iowaGirls iin ther nudeMalle orgwsm hypnosis videoGppsland pornSeex offenders trainingSmall escorted tours italySammi jjayne frtee xxxx moviesMalaysian airlines stewardess nudeGreeent thumbMatujre bkob blow jobFantastic gayy deep throatFrree bbww fistYouing teens homemnade videpBlqck bboy porn freeGay games clevelandDutch pordn mazgazine 80 s rarBeend
up and smell my anal vaporSister givkng brother a blowjobAsiian pussy camAnal addiccts vvol 31Beautifvul erotic nuddes vidro trailersShee eeds tto fuck mpp 3Free tips
to enlargee penisAlyssa lazaro alot oof sexIndx heer assSeex with
co-workerBigg big big fat old pussyLesbian videos of cherokee
d’assPantyhose girlsFreee gayy ffurry pornVintage gay porn blogHairy nzked men’s assNatural increase ssex driveInternal turkey breastInterracial movie blondeXxx illustrated
erotic storiesPornography movieAmazing dick contractionsAnal blowup pornPenis too small forr condomsGertz jami
llip nude serviceHusband sucks another man’s cockJuust uss guys gaySexyy masrio costumeJennna haze ideo gory holeAlbefta watson sex sceneVidd o pornno
publicFreee online sex crewmpie videosJamei ltnn spewrs nakedLesbijan hauuntings ffee moviesWhoo gives porns
brst blow jobAdult toy inventionsPlayboy nude photos of
female athuletes https://xnxxbolt.com Adult areda vikds for
couplesGreen tonguds arre sexyStright gyya suckBook huimor ssummer reading adultPasant sexDifference bbetween dwarf annd midgetHoww
too catdh striped bassGirls feel sex oon the insideBroown asss
lickersTwoo lesbiens fucking each ohterOlympiuc babes nudeMusic theerapy and disabled adultsFreee
adult xxxx seex movieYoung skinjy girls sexMana tmbs escort questRuuth crilly nudeThee
botgtom of mmy heart iss truthClassroom activities
foor adultsLeo giamini bottom rawSmoking fstish 4shared pornIncfrease
iin brest densityAdult costuume halloween jasmineJudiga a nude picsRussioan cumshotsFrree bobg sexNatrurally nude actressesSofisticated busty
sayin ladiesPoorn backdoorDillon pornstarTighyt vagina picBlack
erootic gaay storiesJunno temple nude mr nobodyS club7 joo nakesd picsMatuyre lingerie photosSpank matchesHott girl fucms mediumm dickNaughty julkie orgyYoung naked girls spankedActivity adultt hemiplegja in inn middle
right selective treeatment trunkTooon porn niickelodeon toonsPifhunter interracial lesbianT pain loww apple ottom jeasns lyricsPorho bigg tit blow jobFreee amater submitted matreSpanish
clss adult educationHairy ass lickYounjg girlos aand bow joob movieBlondde hzrdcore sexoJessica
allba sucking dick picsIn between bikini waxFirdman adult
dvdFreee amatejr seex videos canadaGitls talk ablut uncut dic videoShaven nakeed
girlsBigg aass dominicans getting fuckStrangr bpow jobBsty
germn modelAdut ana ssex videoNaked chicks in the 1960sExterior acryllic lastex paintDownload lesbian kissingWoman having sex
wioth dogRoocki road’s wwet dreamsLake ozark escortsBddsm ssperm doctorThousands nude mexicoLatina
anaql sex videosCruel rubber bobdage and femdom
authoritarianNaked in indiaFree sex chat indiaWeird
sezy giantessHolly sucking fucking
A formidable share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing somewhat evaluation on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I discovered it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! However yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love studying more on this topic. If doable, as you develop into expertise, would you thoughts updating your weblog with extra details? It is extremely useful for me. Huge thumb up for this weblog submit!
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You clearly know what youre talking about, why throw away your intelligence on just posting videos to your site when you could be giving us something enlightening to read?
Sweet internet site, super pattern, real clean and apply pleasant.
Hey very cool website!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…I am happy to find numerous useful info here in the post, we need work out more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
Aw, this was a very nice post. In thought I would like to put in writing like this additionally – taking time and actual effort to make an excellent article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and under no circumstances seem to get something done.
Some times its a pain in the ass to read what people wrote but this site is rattling user pleasant! .
Hello very nice web site!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Wonderful .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds alsoKI am glad to seek out a lot of useful information right here in the publish, we need work out more techniques on this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
I think this is one of the such a lot significant information for me. And i’m happy studying your article. But should remark on some normal issues, The web site taste is wonderful, the articles is in reality nice : D. Just right task, cheers
I really like your writing style, good info, appreciate it for posting :D. “Faith is a continuation of reason.” by William Adams.
Sweet blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo News. Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Many thanks
After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
Well I definitely liked studying it. This subject provided by you is very effective for correct planning.
I like this web site very much, Its a really nice post to read and receive information.