The Butterfly Ball

Few experiences are more meaningful and emotional for me than what I attended last evening with my little girl. Her elementary school sponsored the Butterfly Ball - a daddy/daughter dinner and dance. The preparation was almost as special as the event itself. She and her mom went on the hunt for a new dress, had her hair cut, and wanted to surprise me with both. And, the day of the ball, the anticipation heightened for me as I pressed through hours of meetings. Opening the car door for her and taking her hand made me feel like a knight in shining armor. (OK - I may be going a little overboard...) Suffice to say, the night was outrageously fun! And, she even allowed me to dance with her a couple of times. (For my friends out there who might be hard-line questioning this activity, the purity of the experience was unquestionable.) The lump in my throat grew as the mind began to fast forward to a night that will be far more monumental than this - a dance with the bride. I briefly imagined a possible conversation... "Do you remember our first real dance when you were in first grade...?" (Wow...kleenex please!) Thanks to all who had the forethought and creativity to put such an event together.

And, here's a thought: What if churches provided a special evening for daddys and daughters?