Paying for the Wedding

SHE RARELY CRIED, BUT THIS ONE NIGHT WAS DIFFERENT.

I HAD MADE A DEAL WITH MY DAUGHTER WHEN SHE WAS HEADING OFF TO COLLEGE THAT, I WOULD PAY HER SCHOOL BILL, ALL OF IT, IF SHE WOULD JUST FINISH PAYNG FOR HER CAR AND COVER THE INSURANCE BY GETTING A JOB. SEEMED LIKE A GOOD DEAL TO ME AND I WAS GOING TO HOLD HER TO IT.

BUT YOU KNOW HOW THOSE THINGS GO. SHE GOT SOME ODD JOBS, BUT NOTHING THAT WAS REALLY CARRYING THE FREIGHT. NONE OF THOSE BILLS REALLY GOT PAID SO SHE REACHED HER SENIOR YEAR WITHOUT EVER FULFILLING HER RESPONSIBILITY.

SO, THEN, SHE WAS ABOUT TO GET MARRIED. HERE I WAS DOING ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS AND, NOW, I HAD TO PAY FOR A WEDDING, SO I CAME UP WITH A SORT OF “FATHER OF THE BRIDE” IDEA. I DECIDED THAT IN LIEU OF WHAT SHE OWED, I WOULD JUST LET HER PAY FOR HER OWN WEDDING. TEACH HER A LITTLE RESPONSIBILITY, RIGHT?

WELL WE WENT THROUGH THE SUMMER AND SHE DID WORK HARD. I WAS HAPPY AND I THOUGHT SHE WAS, BUT I’LL NEVER FORGET THE NIGHT SHE CAME TO ME ON THE BACK PORCH OF OUR HOUSE. SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD WORKED AS HARD AS SHE COULD BUT SHE WAS STILL GOING TO BE SHORT BY A COUPLE OF THOUSAND DOLLARS IN COVERING HER EXPENSES.

WELL, I SORT OF LAUNCHED INTO “FATHER OF THE BRIDE” MODE AGAIN, COMPLAINING ABOUT THE COST OF EVERYTHING, AND THEN I SAW THE TEARS. NOW YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT MY DAUGHTER RARELY CRIES. I COULD COUNT ON BOTH MY HANDS THE TIMES I’VE SEEN IT. SHE JUST DOESN’T DO IT. BUT THAT NIGHT WAS DIFFERENT. ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE BROKE, AND THERE I WAS FEELING LIKE THE WORST FATHER IN THE WHOLE WORLD.

I ALL OF SUDDEN REMEMBERED THAT SEEN FROM FATHER OF THE BRIDE WHERE STEVE ____________’S WIFE TELLS HIM THAT HE’S RUINING HIS DAUGHTER’S HAPPINESS. I JUST SAID, “HEY HON, WHATEVER YOU NEED WHATEVER YOU WANT, I JUST WANT YOU TO HAVE A GOOD WEDDING.”

NOW HERE’S THE POINT: THE TRUTH IS THAT THIS WAS NOT WHAT WE HAD AGREED ON AT ALL, BUT I JUST DECIDED TO GIVE HER A GIFT, WHY? BECAUSE I’M HER DAD, AND SHE’S MY CHILD.

NOW IF I, A GREEDY, SORRY, SINFUL, WEDDING-RUINING DAD KNOWS HOW TO GIVE A GOOD GIFT TO MY CHILD, HOW MUCH MORE DOES MY FATHER IN HEAVEN KNOW HOW TO GIVE A GOOD GIFT TO YOU AND ME. HIS ANSWERS ARE SUPERIOR! God’s answer is superior. He loves us and will help us. That’s guaranteed.