Michael Farris - What a Daughter Needs from Her Dad: How a Man Prepares His Daughter for Life

1996, 2004 Michael P. Farris

Published by Bethany House Publishers
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Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com

Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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Ebook edition created 2010

Ebook corrections 2.16.2012

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ISBN 978-1-5855-8827-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.

Scripture quotations identified KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Cover design by Eric Walljasper

To Christy, Jayme, Katie, Jessica, Angie, and Emily.

MICHAEL FARRIS is the father of six daughters and four sons and the grandfather of twelve. Chancellor of Patrick Henry College, a constitutional lawyer, and chairman of the Home School Defense League, he is also the author of more than a dozen books. His daily radio program, Home School Heartbeat, can be heard on several hundred stations nationwide. Michael and his wife, Vickie, live in Virginia.

Contents

Acknowledgments

My friend David Hazard asked me to write this book because heknows my daughters. I am grateful to him for his trust in me and hisskill in editing this book. My secretary, Sally, was a great help asalways. Sally has a great dad, who guided her well.

ILL NEVER FORGET THAT MORNING. The clean air of the Pacific Northwest seemed to glisten a brilliant blue. It was a perfect Saturday in late June. In Spokane, Washington, where we lived, some men would go fishing, some would mow their lawns, and some would take advantage of the day for golf.

I doubt that many of the other men living in Spokane at the time have a clear recollection of June 28, 1975. But I do. It was the day I held my firstborn childmy daughterin my arms for the first time.

I got to hold Christy even before my wife did. While the doctor and nurses took care of Vickie, I walked around the birthing room with a tiny bundle in a warm white blanket. Those unfocused eyes seemed to stare up into mine.

My life would never be the same.

Within a day or two, I made all kinds of resolutions to change, to improve myself, to be a better man. After all, I was now the proud father of a daughter. A daughter! I got a haircut. I promised Vickie I would have better manners around the house. And I would and I would and I would

Since that morning and all those promises, nearly thirty years have come and gone swiftly. Vickie and I had five more daughters and eventually four sons as well. Christy is now grown, married, and the mother of three little girls of her own. Jayme, our second born, is also married with two daughters. Katie, our third, is married with a daughter and a son. Jessica, nineteen, is a sophomore at Patrick Henry College. Angie, sixteen, and Emily, thirteen, are still at home. Six daughters. More than most fathers.

Ive had lots of practice with daughters. And with the Lords help and a fantastic wife, we have seen considerable success with our girls. The four that are grown are attractive, smart, morally upright, and spiritually vibrant. And the younger ones seem to be following the same path. If we couldnt demonstrate a certain measure of success with our girls, I shouldnt attempt to write this book. But Id never claim that I have been a perfect father to my daughters. Far from it. I have perhaps as many lessons to share from my mistakes as from my successes. Thankfully, Ive also had the benefit of observing and learning from many spiritual men over the years, and their example has helped me through the rough spots and taught me right goals to shoot for as a father. Im thankful for the godly men in my life.

There is an extraordinary pleasure in being the father of a daughtera pleasure you no doubt share, or you probably wouldnt be reading this book.

My goal is to share some things Ive learned so that you can be better equipped to be a dad. On the day your daughter was born, Im sure your emotions soared just like mine. You wanted to be a good dada great dad. And the desire to be a better father to that little girl still burns in your heart.

Lets fan those flames together.

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