“Daddy, look at this puppy!”

Every night, my daughter would crawl up in her daddy’s lap, and talk to him about her biggest wish, the dream in her heart – getting a puppy. She would show him pictures of puppy after puppy on his phone.

Like seriously, every night. For two years. 

Never, not once, did her daddy roll his eyes in annoyance that she was asking…yet again. Quite the opposite, actually: he revelled in her asking. He got excited with her over all those adorable fluffy fur balls. He hung on her every word about what she liked about each one, what she might name them, and if she should get a boy or a girl.

I sat at a distance, watching and wondering why that man was entertaining this wild idea about her getting a dog! Everybody knows that mama is the one who ends up taking care of every living creature in the house and I was not on board!

This father/daughter interaction struck a chord in me as it relates to prayer. She ran to him, daily, with this deep desire in her heart. Daily this daddy opened his arms wide, delighting in her asking. He didn’t grant her wish immediately, like a genie. He was a wise, good father (and husband) to not say yes right off the bat and give in to her fantasy whim the first time she asked.

Imagine all the precious hours of connection they would have missed out on had he done that! All the minutes she had crawled up in his lap, rested her head against his chest, called him daddy, and shared her deepest dreams of doggie love with him would never have happened.

He was listening. He was enjoying spending time with his daughter. 

Watching them made me want to run to my Abba Father with my “childlike faith” big dreams that seem unrealistic. Do you have some of those, too, friend? Sometimes in the light of day, they seem unreasonable to ask for. Yet we know from scripture that this childlike faith is the kind of faith our daddy in heaven wants us to have.

I don’t know about you, but I have trouble keeping the persistence and passion in my prayer life with The Father that my daughter had with her father. Yet it’s evident in scripture that RELATIONSHIP is what God’s after in prayer. It’s the relentless running to your daddy and resting you head on his chest, asking and talking to Him that He desires.

Dear Daughter, 

 When you pray, come away with me. Shut the door behind you, and pray to me, your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble on about what you think sounds good and religious. I know exactly what you need even before you ask me! (Adapted from Matthew 6:6-8)

Even though I know what you need, even what you desire, I want you to take hold of this opportunity Jesus gave you to have relationship with me. Pour your heart out to me, and let’s sift through it together. 

I just want to spend time with you.

Love,

Father.

“Because he bends down to listen,  I will pray as long as I have breath!” Psalm 116:2

Dear Sister, 

You are probably wondering, did she get the dog?

As I mentioned the mom in this story was lovingly watching their snuggles and daddy’s delight in his daughter, but I was a firm NO in the dog department. Well, daddy was out of town on a trip, and I taught the kids a lesson on prayer journaling. I told them to just “pour their heart out to the Lord in your journal.” Whatever is in your heart: your desires, frustrations, your uncertainties. Thank Him for what he has done. Ask Him for what you need. I read Hannah’s prayer for a son to them from 1 Samuel 1.

“Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1:15

Obviously, this prayer for “a son” translated to “prayer for a puppy” in our daughter’s mind and heart!

The daughter in her, who had been running to her earthly daddy and asking for a puppy, ran to her Heavenly Father and began asking Him for a puppy.

We are now the proud owners of a Malshi (Maltese/Shitzu) name Millie.

Sister, this week, let the daughter in you run to your Father like a daughter who is crawling in her daddy’s lap asking for a puppy. He will not turn you away. He will not roll his eyes that you’re asking for the same thing, yet again. He may not grant your desire, but He will become your desire. He will satisfy the longing in your heart until he either fulfills it or gives you peace over it.

He is the only true need you have. Just run to him, daughter.

I hope this Dear Daughter Monday Motivation letter has inspired you for the week ahead!

If it has, I’d love to hear from you about it!

Please share it with a friend.

See you next Monday, daughter.

Amy

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