Heavier Things ... Daughters ...

Robert Kellog, President of the Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma, once made a comment, "All great men have two daughters." My friend Jeff Moore found this a great comment as he and Sharla have two girls. Naturally, I found this to my liking.

Many would think this means men who have sons and daughters are not great men. I really think what Robert was saying spoke to the important relationship between "Daddys" and "Daughters." One of my favorite songs is my John Mayer titled, Daughters." The chorus line offers a solid challenge,

So Fathers be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do,
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
Mothers be good to your daughters too.

Lyle loved his daugther. I mentioned in my time of sharing about Lyle just a month ago how proud he was of Natalie. She challenged him. Natalie challenges me. Once she finished reading a book for a given class Natalie often passed it on to Lyle. Some of the subjects and often the content forced us to think about life and faith from differing perspectives. Neatly tucked away in the Bible Belt our ways of thinking can be really obtuse.

Our children comprise the fascinating combination of their parents. Sometimes these "passed on traits" are obvious and somtimes they are latent. All of the time they are present. Too many men miss the import of time with their daughters. Afraid they will break, girls are often relegated to "Mom's project." There is a current critique regarding the feminization of the male; too soft some are saying. There is a great loss of what it means to be a man. Documentation seems at least offer some support.

Yet, Dads who will pay attention to their daughters will not be feminized but rather they will be completed. You could say it is like the development of a good character in a novel. Apart from the experience with his daughters a Daddy may not develop in ways God intended him to otherwise.

There is little doubt Lyle was a man's man. Just ask Jason, Nathan and Eddie to tell the "hand towell" story. He was also his daugther's biggest fan. Sensitivites and perspective may have developed further than expected while learning about life through the eyes of his daughter.

Next month Natalie will graduate from Wheaton. In the same way he stood proud with her when she graduted from Tuttle, Lyle will be proud as she accepts the title graduate a second time. We too often refer to those who have gone before us as if they "were" something that they "are" not now. What a mistake. Sunday we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. Our embracing of his hope in resurrection gives us confidence in our own resurrection as his "joint-heir." In the hope of resurrection we know Lyle "is" proud of Natalie.