Will the Real Hero Please Stand Up? My Daddy, from Annabelle
Picture this, I have spent all morning making sure my nails are polished, my make-up has been repaired numerous times already from the funny stories and memories, my hair has been coiffed into the perfect place to set the veil that now lowers over my face.
Through my veil I see his face, kind of a contradiction in itself, grinning ear to ear while tears stream down his rosy cheeks. That’s my hero, my daddy! I am about to put my arm around his elbow to float down the aisle together to the Prince I would have never found without the Hero in my daddy. Let me tell you how my hero prepared me for my prince.
Part 2
Make the Right Friends and Make them Family
My parents had the greatest friends and it seemed like everywhere we would visit, we would stay, eat, and laugh for hours with deep friends. My best friends were the children of my parent’s best friends and I loved it.
My daddy always helped me to be kind and to look for the hope in people, because that is what God did for us. Daddy would tell me that he did not try to be friends with everyone; instead, pick a few and invest so deeply into those people that they became family. It really did not make sense when he would talk to me about it, but it always clicked when he would show me. It really seemed like my daddy had many heroes of his own; they were his friends.
In fact, daddy showed me how he was my hero my first day in the world. One of his best friends, John, with whom he shared the deepest moments of life, was right with my parents in the hospital making sure we were all safe and secure. Daddy’s best bud was the third person to hold me and he is still around to make sure I become the best God has for me. I had no idea then that I would play dress up, talk about boys (don’t tell our dads), cry, and learn with his three girls. I don’t remember it, but Uncle Zig (I call him that, but really like to call him Ziggie) actually would make special trips those first days to the hospital in the middle of the night to just peak in the room to check on mommy, daddy, and me. Ziggie showed me what generosity means, and I am so glad he mattered so much to my daddy.
Ziggie and Annabelle at 9 Months
How did my daddy get such a great friend? Time and Trust. Daddy told me about how they would share the highs and lows, the success and challenge, being a father and being a listener. Daddy always told me that my friends where my choice and to choose wisely. I see all my bridesmaids around me right now and realize that I chose these friends because my daddy taught me how to choose. My mommy always said that my daddy “has a great picker” and I agree…have you seen how awesome my mommy is?
Daddy would tell me about the times his heart was broken or feelings hurt from friends who turned out to not have time or trust. He would also talk about the times he was not a good friend to others. He always remembered those times and spent time talking about his feelings to me. I loved that my daddy would share his feelings with me about a lot of things. I love that he felt deeply and would use that to teach me to feel deeply.
He is standing here right now taking in his little girl all in white, curls down her back, tears down her cheeks, telling me how is feeling…and I am glad we feel the same way!
Annabelle Berry
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This is the story of a journey being written, experienced, and enjoyed. The story written about the Hero my daddy hopes to become, by my daddy himself.
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