I’m writing this knowing I won’t change the world, but maybe I can change one life for one day. That’s enough.
There was a story on CNN today about tween girls asking folks on YouTube if they are pretty or ugly. Most of the little girls say things like, “everyone tells me I’m ugly ….”
Of course lots of the repulsive people responding say absurd and cruel things to the girls, one child has gotten over four million comments.
So today, if you happen to have or run into a little girl, a tween or teenager, for the love of God, look at that child and tell her she’s beautiful. She might actually hear what you are saying.
And for you daddys out there. You absolutely have the most important voice. Your praise is what every girl really really wants. You are the first and most important man in her life and as long as you think she’s beautiful and tell her, the rest of the world won’t matter so much.
This weekend a very good friend of Lexie’s was getting ready for her first date. She’s 15 and it’s a great big deal because he’s a boy with a truck, a job and pretty blue eyes. Annie lives with her daddy who is a very very protective cowboy daddy. I’m talking massive belt buckle and hat/ fully armed daddy. Annie has lots of friends and is so pretty. As we drove back from a taekwondo tournament, Lexie and I listened as Annie talked to “the boy” for nearly thirty minutes. Over and over Annie mentioned or referenced her father. “My dad plays guitar too, but just acoustic.” or “My dad loves country music so you might not want to wear the Nine Inch Nails tee-shirt when you pick me up.” and “My dad and I ate Mexican food last week, I ate way too much cheese dip.”
Annie talked about her dad becasue he is, without question, the most important person in her life. Yeah, they fight and bicker and complain about each other aaaaalllll the time but her dad is her Number One Man.
So, Daddy’s out there…never every underestimate how important you are in your girl’s life. Tell her she’s beautiful ALL THE TIME then maybe she won’t end up one of those desperate and sad little things on YOUTUBE, staring at the camera and asking strangers if she’s pretty.