The other day I was at Barnes and Noble reading and enjoying a cup of coffee, and I kept hearing this little girl near me talking. I was kind of enthralled in my book so it was a while before I actually looked up and saw her. It was pure “preciousness”- a little girl, probably 7 or 8 and her dad. She was looking at a book and I don’t know if she was describing the pictures or what but her dad was so interested in what she was saying to him. He gave her every bit of his attention, and what I loved even more was that even when she would pause to look through the book herself, his eyes were still fixed on her. His face seemed so gentle, and his smile literally warmed my heart. About a half an hour later they got up and left, (probably because I was staring and he wanted to get his daughter away from creepy girls like me who peer over their books and people watch!) and still he was so patient with her. She would run up to a display and show him something, or say something silly and she immediately would turn to him to see his reaction. He consistently reacted with a smile and some sort of heartfelt response.I love seeing love. In all honestly I kept expecting him to be like, “OK now we need to go. Stop running around; put your coat on and come with me!” But he never did, and that made me so happy. He simply loved her. That girl is going to grow up so confident in herself, so aware of her worth and the value of her words, ideas, and observations. She won’t ever look for that attention in the wrong places or people. She’ll know where she stands, and she’ll know she has this support from her father. I wish every girl could have that. I wish every man could realize the impact or potential impact they can have on a girl.In my Kairos group we’re reading Captivating, and it’s really showing me how it’s ok that girls are a little vulnerable and dependent; we were created to be. That dad may not have even realized the good he was doing. Maybe it was just his nature to be that patient. But I know that even the slightest sign of irritation from him really would have stuck with that girl a long time. Our hearts are so tender when we’re young, and at least from my experience and from those around me, the scars tend to stay a long time.But I love that the Lord has the heart of a Father towards us! It is such an important role in every person’s life, guy or girl. I’ve said it before, but my struggle has often been viewing God with a tender heart towards me. I feel like I have the tendency to irritate or overwhelm my family, so of course I always thought I did the same thing to God. But He’s really been working on me lately, and revealing that side of Himself to me more and more. So watching that little exchange between a daughter and Father made me melt. I love that when I pray, God’s eyes are fixed on me! When I turn away in shame He’s still looking, still paying attention. When I worship he delights, and smiles! How can that be?! How can HE delight in ME? Mmmm, I really, truly just love it.