Her hair up in a pony tail, her favorite dress tied with a bow- Today was Daddy's Day at school, and she couldn't wait to go. Her Mommy tried to tell her, that she probably should stay home- The kids might not understand, if she went to school alone.
She was not afraid, she knew just what to say- What to tell her classmates, on this Daddy's Day. Still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone- That was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home.
The little girl went to school, eager to tell them all- About a dad she never sees, a dad who never calls. There were daddies along the wall in the back, for everyone to meet- Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats.
One by one the teacher called, a student from the class- To introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly passed. At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare- Each of them were searching for a man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy at?" She heard a boy call out- "She probably doesn't have one," another student dared to shout. From somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say- "Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day."
The words did not offend her. She smiled at her friends- And looked back at her teacher, who told her to begin. And with hands behind her back, she slowly began to speak- And out from the mouth of a child came words incredibly unique.
"My daddy couldn't be here, because he lives so far away- But I know he wishes he could be here with me today. And though you cannot meet him, I want you to know- All about my daddy, and how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories, he taught me to ride my bike- He surprised me with pink roses. He taught me to fly a kite. We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone- And though you cannot see him, I'm not standing here alone.
My daddy's always with me, even though we are apart- I know because he told me, He'll be here in my heart."
With that her hand reached up and laid across her chest- Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress. And from somewhere in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears- Proudly watching her daughter, wise beyond her years.
She stood up for the love of her Daddy, no longer in her life- Doing what was best for her, doing what was right. And when she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd- She finished with a voice so soft, and a message clear and loud.
"I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star- And if he could, he'd be here. Heaven is just too far. Sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away"- She closed her eyes and saw him standing there that day.
And to her mothers amazement, she witnessed with surprise- A room full of daddies and children, all who closed their eyes. Who knows what they saw before them or what they felt inside- Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side.
"I know you're with me daddy,"- To the silence she called out- What happened next made believers of those filled with doubt. Not one in that room could explain, for each of their eyes had been closed- Sitting on her desktop, was a beautiful pink rose.
And a child was blessed for a moment by the love of her shining star- And given the gift of believing that heaven is never too far.
Written by June Drake. I, too, lost my father at a young age and this story has a very special place in my heart.
