Her hair was up in a pony tail, her favorite dress tied in a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school and she couldn't wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her that she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand, if she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates of why he wasn't there today.
But still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home.
But the little girl went to school eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees. A dad who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in back,for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats.
One by one the teacher called a student from the class.
To introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching for a man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy at? " she heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one!"another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another dead beat dad, too busy to waste his day."
The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her mom,
and looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child, came incredibly unique,
"My daddy couldn't be here, because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be, since this is such a special day.
And though you can not meet him, I wanted you to know
all about my daddy and how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories. He taught me to ride a bike.
He surprised me with pink roses, and taught me how to fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone,
though you can not see him, I'm not standing here alone.
Cause my daddy's always with me, Even though we are far apart.
I know because he told me. He'll forever be in my heart."
With that, her little hand reached up and layed across her chest,
feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress.
And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her years!
For she stood up for the love of a man not in her life,
doing what was best for her and doing what was right.
And when she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd. S
he finished with a voice so soft, but it's message clear and Loud.
"I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here, but heavens just to far.
You see he is a soldier and died just this past year,
when a roadside bomb hit his convoy and taught us all to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away."
And then she closed her eyes and saw him there that day.
And to her mother's amazement, she witnessed with surprise.
A room full of dad's and children, all starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them, who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side.
"I know you're with me daddy."to the silence she called out.
And what happened next, made believers of those once filled with doubt.
Not one in that room could explain it, for each one of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
And a child blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of a shining star
and given the gift of believing, that heaven is never to far.
