DADDY’S GIRL

If you knew me growing up or if we’ve spent any time talking about my childhood, you know I was a “daddy’s girl.” One story often told about me was how I would sit on my father’s lap and eat the exotic cheeses he loved – some of which my siblings would consider unpalatable. For me, it was all about being like Daddy.

My older sister spent time helping our Dad on various remodeling projects and, to this day, will take on any construction or remodel project and is quite handy with power tools. She learned by carefully following instructions from and imitating Dad as they built things together.

My younger sister often tells of trying to get Dad’s coffee just right – the perfect mix of cream and sugar, not too hot and not too cold. She watched his coffee prep and sought to perfectly replicate it. She sought to present something to him that perfectly met his preferences. 

We all had our ups and downs with Dad throughout our lives, but there is something about a girl that craves a connection to her father. A daddy who dotes on, instructs, leads and shares time with his daughter is something to be cherished. 

If you didn’t have that kind of relationship with your earthly father, you likely feel the pain of having missed out. But, take heart, our Heavenly Father seeks to fill in that gap for you. 

• His lap is always open – especially for us to sit upon and eat of the bread of life together. 
• He is building something new in you and you have a part to play in the construction. He’ll teach you how to build others up in truth as well.
• He specifically sent Jesus Christ to this earth so that we would have someone who was imitating the Father and whom we could then imitate too.

In Proverbs 3:13-14 [ESV] we read: Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. Nothing unique there. Right? Proverbs is all about encouraging us to have wisdom. But then, after continuing to expound the benefits of wisdom, through verse 18, the chapter turns from encouraging us about the benefits of finding wisdom to this in verse 19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens;

Heaven and earth (and one would logically assume everything in them as well) were founded by the LORD via wisdom and understanding. So, this is just one way that we can be more like our Father God – by the acquisition of wisdom. 

What are some of the other ways that we are specifically encouraged to become more like Abba and become a spiritual “Daddy’s girl?” Here are a few direct commands:

A “Daddy’s girl” shows mercy to others. Luke 6:36 [ESV] Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. 

A “Daddy’s girl” loves her enemies and prays for those who persecute her, with the goal of becoming as perfect in love as Abba. Matthew 5:44-45, 48 [ESV] But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Verse 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

In addition, anything we find listed as a quality of the Fruit of the Spirit is a quality of a “Daddy’s girl” because the Holy Spirit is sent to us by the Father. It’s a part of Him that can and should live in us. Luke 11:13 [ESV]  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

A spiritual “Daddy’s girl” is or seeks to be:

• Wise (and values wisdom)
• Merciful
• Loving
• Prayerful
• Filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” It (or aversion of it) is credited to more than one historical figure. 

The earliest quote is found in a biography of Marcus Aurelius by Jeremy Collier and André Dacier, titled Emperor Marcus Antoninus his conversation with himself, 1708:

“You should consider that Imitation is the most acceptable part of Worship, and that the Gods had much rather Mankind should Resemble, than Flatter them.”*

Our Heavenly Father:

• Welcomes us to His lap for partake of the nourishment of the Word at any time. The rest of the world might turn their noses up at His menu, but we love what the Bible feeds us.
• Is looking to build something with us – build us into vessels for His use, build His house, build an eternal future.
• Is pleased when we seek to please Him – to get things just right. But He is also pleased with our sincere, loving, heartfelt efforts, even if we don’t always get it quite right.

And by these efforts, these connections, we can become wise, merciful, loving and filled with the fruit of the Spirit – just like Abba.

A girl naturally wants to imitate her daddy. Sisters, our heavenly Father calls us to do just that.

I’d love to hear your comments and questions. You can write me at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org.

*Source: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/imitation-is-the-sincerest-form-of-flattery.html