I have been a Daddy's Girl my entire life! Everything my daddy ate, drank, watched on tv or did, I was wanting to either try or do! Was I spoiled? Probably, but I also knew that whenever Daddy spoke, you moved...immediately! When I became a teenager, we butted heads a little more often, BUT...I still pretty much got away with things with Daddy.
On August 16, 1985, my church group was in an accident while we were on a youth trip. A tractor trailer truck hit our van and 3 people out of the 11 on the trip were killed. My brother and I were injured, but the Lord was with us, and we both survived. My daddy's best friend, our pastor, Mike Murphy, was killed. Our accident occurred in Pennsylvania, which is quite a distance from our NC home. My parents drove to the hospital there, and made it in record time. I will never forget the look on my Daddy's face when he saw me! He held me close for what seemed like hours, and told me how much he loved me. This was the first time I had ever seen my daddy cry! Although we had ALWAYS gone to church, other things held a higher rank of importance, until that day! Things not only changed physically and emotionally, our family changed spiritually! From that day, I noticed my daddy reading his Bible more, and he became more involved in church. Outside activities mattered less, and his family and God mattered more.
During the next 25 years, my parents started a music ministry, became Sunday school teachers, and volunteered constantly at church. My daddy became an ordained deacon and then a lay minister. He is now a licensed minister and is being ordained. God has worked so many miracles in my life and in the lives of my family. Our family has grown quite a lot during those years. My parents are not only grand parents, but great-grand parents! They continue to be involved in all our church activities and are such a blessing and a huge source of spiritual strength to our family and others.
I've said all that to say: Thank you God for blessing me with a wonderful family and for giving me a Daddy that loves his family, his church and you. Happy Birthday Daddy! I love you more with each passing day. Thank you for always being there for me, loving me, and for continuing to guide me spiritually! I love you!
Always!!
~~~Shelly~~~
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