Todays Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul

[Guest guest]

Daddy's Hug

By Walenciak

" On numerous occasions my eyes have beheld the incredible beauty which

you

do so glamorously possess. We must meet and we will in the very near

future. "

I vividly remember the handwriting on the card, although I can't quite

recall what the flowers looked like. They may have been roses or perhaps

carnations. No matter. They were the first flowers I had ever received

from a

secret admirer. Actually, they were the first flowers I had received from

anyone besides my dad.

In high school, I was a bit awkward. I felt like the lone Olive Oyl in

a

sea full of Betty Boops. I was the girl who counseled all the boys on what

kind

of flowers to buy the other girls, but I never received any of my own. I

was

friend material, not girlfriend material.

But then I went away to college. No one there knew I used to be tall

and

lanky and covered with corrective appliances because now I had contacts. My

retainer was long gone, and there was a good chance I was moving into the

girlfriend zone. The fact that I had just received flowers from a secret

admirer was very encouraging.

Using clever detective skills, I compared the handwriting on the card

to

the roll sheets in my classes and discovered my secret admirer was in my

radio-

production class. As luck would have it, I thought he was quite cute, and

my

eyes had been " beholding " him, too. I got brave and approached him after

class

one day, trying to surprise him with my cleverness.

" Thank you for the flowers, " I said, nonchalantly.

" How did you know it was me? " he asked. He sounded disappointed. Not

a

good sign. " I was planning on overwhelming you with more, but since you

know it

was

me. . . . "

" I'm sorry, " I interrupted. " I must have mistaken you for someone

else. "

I tried to back away.

Too late. I had discovered him and ruined his plan. There was nothing

to

do now but go out on an actual date. So off we went to play miniature golf,

and

although I can't remember who won, I remember we had a great time.

I remember thinking what a great story we would have to tell our

grandchildren. But all romances have an element of tragedy, and our story

turned tragic the very next day. As I was floating on air to my afternoon

class, I crashed to the ground when I saw my secret admirer kissing another

girl

in front of my dorm.

To be honest, my heart was in a fragile state. Too many lonely Friday

nights had weakened it already. Now it was completely broken. Not just

over

this guy, but over all the boys who had failed to see me as the girl I

wanted

them to see.

I did the only thing I knew to do: I went home to Mom. But it was not

my

mom who met me at the door. It was my dad. I don't remember him saying a

word.

He simply held me and let me cry. Even as I mourned my singleness, I

treasured

the comfort of Daddy's arms. Soon all the tears were dry, but Daddy still

held

me.

I honestly can't remember when my dad and I had shared a moment like

that

before, and I have nothing but gratitude for the guy who broke my heart so

that

my dad could pick up the pieces.

Since that day, my secret admirer and I have become " just friends. " My

heart was broken a couple more times before I gave it to the man who became

my

husband. As for my dad, he did much more than just comfort me that day. He

taught me a great lesson. When life gets tough, which it has a time or two,

all

I need to do is turn to God, the real Father. The peace and love I find in

His

arms somehow makes me thankful for the trials that sent me there.