Daddy 
A Daughter's Poem 

To a father with a daughter 
please listen I beg 
For the sake of your child 
please hear what is said. 

From the day she is born 
her eyes look to you. 
Her picture of God 
is mirrored there too. 

So please if you're listening 
take special care 
to handle her gently 
to handle with prayer. 

If you touch her in ways 
she should never know, 
In the mirror she will see 
a god who is unprotective and cold. 

If you make her keep secrets 
that she's told not to mention, 
In the mirror she will see 
a god of dissension. 

If your arms never hold her 
and your ears never hear, 
in the mirror she will see 
that God doesn't care. 

If the mirror she looks into 
is cloudy and smeared, 
the god she will see 
she will never let near. 

If you're quick to condemn her 
in the mirror she will see, 
a god who rejects her, 
and is always displeased. 

If your voice is raised 
and your hand swift to bruise, 
in the mirror she will see 
A god of anger and abuse. 

If you put down your wife 
her eyes focus in, 
in the mirror she will see 
a god just for men. 

If you fail in your word 
and don't carry through, 
in the mirror she will see 
God's words are untrue. 

If you pack up your bags 
and your love she's denied, 
in the mirror she will see 
A god that will cast her aside. 

A god that's unfaithful 
a god that's untrue 
a god that will hurt you, 
it's all up to you. 

You see as her father, 
she looks to you now, 
to show her the God 
of creation somehow. 

Father be careful 
each step of the way, 
is a footprint to God 
she will step in someday. 

By the mirror that she looked in 
by that she'll decide 
to stop at the cross ... 
or simply walk right on by