My Favorite Song

This morning, shortly after I woke up, my children were eager to wish me, “Happy Birthday!” Each of them had a card and a gift (plus they got up on their own, and got ready for school, without their mother or me telling them to do so…which was AWESOME!). After I had opened the presents, my daughter informed me that she had one more gift.

She smiled really big and said, “Daddy, I wrote a song for you…and I’m gonna sing it!” I almost cried! As a songwriter myself, I understand the vulnerability of not only writing a song, but also singing it in front of others. Sharing your art is like giving away a piece of your heart.

With a big grin, she began to sing, and it was absolutely the most beautiful song I have ever heard! In that moment, all of my other favorite songs by artist such as U2, Fleetwood Mac, Clint Black, and Ray LaMontange, immediately took a backseat to the beautiful melody and lyrics created by my daughter-a song entitled, “It’s Your Birthday.” Though the song may never win a grammy, it won my heart, and from this day forward, it will forever be, “My Favorite Song.”

Thank you, Haley, for giving me a piece of your heart. Thank you for so being creative. Thank you for taking the time to write an original song. Thank you for sharing your art with me. Thank you for being vulnerable. Thank you for reflecting the image of our creator. It’s an honor to be your “Daddy“!

Today, I’m reminded of the fact that my children are special gifts to their mom and me. They were created by God, and entrusted to our care, to love, nurture, and train-up. What an awesome task we have as parents. What a gift, to get to share and invest our lives in such moldable and vulnerable little ones. I pray that God will give us the wisdom and discernment needed to shape our children according to their “natural bent”.  

“Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” -Proverbs 22:6 (New Living Translation)