For the father of a daughter, there are many moments in life that last like a picture. The first time you hold her, the first time she calls you daddy, how excited she is to see you when you get home from a long day at work. These moments form a bond with her like no other person in your life. You are the greatest man in her life, and whether you have one or ten daughters, each holds a special place in your heart and these moments with each of them is it's own special gift.
As she grows, other moments, some unexpected and wonderful, and some feared and dreaded filter into your life. The first time a boy comes calling, the first concert she goes to, her high school graduation, and the first time you leave her at college. Each moment pulls her a little further away from you, and yet somehow also makes your relationship with her stronger. As she grows, so too does your love for her. Each moment lives within you as a memory, as a photograph, and as a piece of history of you and your little girl.
As a dad however, there is one defining moment in your life with your daughter that is one of the most anticipated, wonderful, and feared times that you will ever experience. On this day, snapshots do not exist. Like a slow motion picture show, the day unfolds one scene at a time with each frame leading up to one moment...the walk.
She is dressed in white and looks as pretty as her mom did those many years ago. You take her arm and smile nervously and begin to lead her down to the man that will replace you as the most important man in her life. You try to smile as the cameras flash because this is one of the happiest moments in life for her, but the camera captures the image of a man whose life is changing before his minds eye. With your real eyes you see the flowers, you see the family and friends, and you see a happy couple about to begin their lives as one. But your minds eye is seeing that with each step forward you are leaving behind the girl in pigtails, the tea parties with her dolls, and the all the treasures you discovered together at the beach. Each step forward hurts as each leaves another step clearly in the past.
But there you are, her daddy bringing her to her future as you have been doing since the day she was born. You raise her veil and kiss her on the cheek, and give her hand to her future husband. And as you turn away, you somehow realize that all of those memories, all of those moments, all of those snapshots from the past are yours forever. She will always be your little girl and as her dad, you will keep walking the walk, capturing new pictures and memories and will continue to be there for her for the rest of your life.
