Hair Ties

I was never adept at styling the hair of my three daughters when they were little.
Oh, I could put their hair in pigtails or a ponytail.
I could place a barrette or clip in just the right place.
I knew how to put a hair tie in their hair that matched the color of their outfit.

I remember when I took my children to get haircuts.
My oldest daughter loved getting one particular stylist.
In fact, she would let her sister go ahead of her and waited for that stylist in particular.
That stylist would French braid my daughter’s long hair after she cut it.

My daughter felt so grown up when she looked in the mirror and saw her elegant hairstyle.
Can you French braid my hair, Mom? She would ask.
I knew how to braid the regular way.
However, gathering hair a little at a time into an lovely braid was out of my league.

I kept their hair clean, brushed, and simply styled.
That same daughter learned how to do those things to her own hair and to her sisters’ hair.
She now can style her nieces’ hair who love it just as much as their aunt all those years ago.
Everything comes full circle.

I thought of all of this when we visited our son, daughter-in-love, and two granddaughters.
They are expecting their third child in a few months.
This baby is another girl.
Often, people will say to my son, he’s a girl dad.

That is not just a factual statement.
Being a girl dad is more than just the reality of fathering girls.
It is so much more.
I have seen it with my own eyes, and it is so wonderfully tender.

I have watched him attend a tea party.
I have heard him name all of the princesses that they love in their play.
I have watched him help them fasten their dress up clothes on top of their regular clothes.
I have heard him read stories that only a girl dad would appreciate.

As I watched him on our visit, I noticed something.
I was sitting across the room and could not discern what I was seeing.
I asked him what he had on his wrist.
Without missing a beat, he said, Hair ties.

I smiled at him and waited because I knew he had more to say.
I keep the hair ties on my wrist in case the girls need them.
You never know when they’ll need their hair pulled back when they’re playing.
That simple statement told me knows how to style their hair.

Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
(Matthew 7:9-11)

A good father loves his children.
He is tender with them and does not exasperate them.
He disciplines them, for their own good, not in anger, but to train them in righteousness.
He provides for them, listens to them, guides them, and leads them.

God the Father loves His children.
He, too, is tender with them.
He disciplines them for their good and His glory.
He provides for them, listens to them, guides them, and leads them.

My granddaughters will get a glimpse of their Heavenly Father because of their earthly father.
Unlike God, no earthly father is perfect, though he desires to love his children well.
Loving his children well shows up in big ways and small ways.
Hair ties on my son’s wrist said more to me than he knew.