In Our Daddy’s Eyes (Father's Day 2026)

ds (dilemmas) =  dismissed, devalued

Ds= Daddy (Abba Father), Daughter, Designed, Destined, Divine Assurance

Scripture: Romans 8:16; Galatians 4:5-7

Sharing Authentically

After a long period of radio silence, this week I received an email that hit hard. The first reading – right before I read my daily devotional -- made me sad. It confirmed what I felt standing in the presence of a 6’5” man who, at the time seemed to size up my 5’1’ personal packaging, black power suit and all, to dismiss me on/out of sight. Seated with him and discussing my leadership experience and how it could contribute to his organization’s needs, I sensed he devalued my professional portfolio as well. He rushed our time and rather than walking me around, walked me out brusquely. Because of my petite stature, I often feel short. With him towering above me as he looked down on the top of my head while he held the door – drat that decision not to wear heels based on the promised tour! -- I felt so small. Over two months later, whether intentional or not, the delayed response to my follow up email delivered a gut punch that threatened to knock me down another notch or two. Instead, the second, third, fourth, and yes, more readings, made me mad! Like so many others who have dismissed and devalued me as a person or professional, that man clearly did not see me.

Unlike my dearly departed Daddy. Beneath his gaze, I always knew my worth as his beloved daughter. Despite my small stature, he saw me as limitless, able to bound and soar to incomparable heights. And he truly was the wind beneath my wings. Daddy had no sons and I am his firstborn, so he bestowed on me the legitimacy of an heir. I bear his image and his last name proudly, and I strive to do him justice and leave a legacy. Though I lost him at age thirty, he left me enough  love – NEVER failed to assure me of it – to last my whole life. Still, Father’s Day leaves me a bit wrecked. I miss him so much and I yearn to be with him again in heaven. To see his face.

As a domestic violence survivor, that’s one of the most devastating effects for me -- the loss of precious photos, including any of my father. Thankfully, I did manage to retrieve my baby picture, and because of his strong genes, looking at it, I can see Daddy looking back at me. I see the brilliant, confident, dapper, determined, gifted, resilient, tenacious, kind and loyal man who made me. And I can imagine him reminding me that I am his child and that he passed down so much of what I need to succeed and fulfill my purpose.

Likewise, my heavenly Daddy. I bear His image strongly  -- my design as His daughter and the divine destiny He has for me show for all who choose to see. His Spirit inside testifies that I am His. For others, bias or other barriers may prevent them from seeing it, but their lack of discernment does not negate the reality. Nevertheless, I struggled with how the email sender perceived me. After crying buckets over that communication, praying about it and then processing it all day, I’d worn myself out. I needed a good period drama. As an Anglophile and bookworm, I decided to watch “To Walk Invisible” a docuseries about the Bronte sisters.

In the mid-1800s, the sisters used male pseudonyms in order to publish their incredible literary work. Upon meeting their publisher, Charlotte Bronte, who wrote Jane Eyre, had to blow her cover and explain her use of the male pen name and that she was indeed the author. When the man stared at her gob smacked, she demanded, “Is it my size, my gender?” To his credit, he did not dismiss or devalue her. Rather, he got over his shock and switched to being in awe of standing in the presence of the petite powerhouse! Watching this 19th century Swan Sister’s transformation throughout the two-part series –around the very ‘d’s I’d dealt with all day and have for much of my life and career, that’s what I call an inspiring God-thing! Charlotte’s transformation did not involve walking invisible by taking on a new identity, it involved walking in the identity and being seen – as the diminutive woman with demonstrated writing prowess – that God designed her as as and destined her to live out to fulfill her purpose and His plans for her.

Scripture

“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” -- Romans 8:16

“That we may receive adoption as sonship [or as brothers and sisters]. And because you are His  sons [daughters], God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba! Father!” – Galatians 4:5-6. “Since you are His child, God has made you also an heir.” Galatians 4: 7.

Spiritual Application

Because we are His children, God is our “Abba, Father”, a term, like “Daddy” that describes a close, intimate, loving, personal relationship with Him.

Though no longer here with me, my earthly father left a part of himself – the part I see staring back at me, and the part I feel when I act, speak, and think like him. Even more so our heavenly Father’s Spirit – the same Spirit Jesus left here for us (John 14:16-17) lives on in us as evidenced when we look, act, speak, and think like Him – all of which testify that we are our Daddy’s  daughters. We are His heirs. He bestowed legitimacy on us when He adopted us as believers. We bear His image, His name, and have everything we need to fulfill our purpose and leave a legacy that points to and glorifies Him.

Having divine assurance that we are our His daughters, we can move through life not concerned with how those who would dismiss or devalue us due to their agendas, biases, discrimination, insecurities, jealousy, or anything else. No matter our stature, we can throw our shoulders back because we know how we’re truly seen in our heavenly Daddy’s eyes. We are limitless with His Spirit, power and love alive in us.

Something to Consider

Charlotte Bronte was diminutive, a 'd' or dilemma during her time and one that persists for some today. Also, though she died of pregnancy complications at age 38, history reveals she likely suffered from tuberculosis, the disease that ran rampantly through her family. Charlotte’s sisters Emily and Anne, also known for their extraordinary writing (i.e., Wuthering Heights and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, respectively), were diseased with tuberculosis and proceeded her in death at the ages of 30 and 29. Yet, in their short lives, despite these dilemmas, all accomplished their assignments and left behind some of the greatest writing in history. So many lessons can we learn from these devout women of God!

• How have you been dismissed or devalued?

• How does viewing yourself as your Daddy’s child and daughter, through His eyes, change what you see? How does it change how others’ perceptions impact you?

• How can you apply the divine assurance of your design and destiny as your Daddy’s daughter to fulfill His purpose for your life?

Savvy & Chic Steps

Preparing to lead my Faith Fit Small Group yesterday, our heavenly Daddy let me know how much He sees me. In reading I Samuel 16:7, I was reminded that “People look at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Earlier in the verse, it said, “Do not consider his height” – wow!

Now that I have minimized the dismissal and devaluing, I am thankful for the shut door and look forward to God opening the right one. Growing up, my earthly daddy tailored my pants so they would not drag the ground and would fit me perfectly. Today, my heavenly Daddy is preparing the professional place He has for me. The one that fits me precisely and will enable me to maximize my design and destiny to serve others and glorify Him. While I wait, I will bask in the divine assurance that I am my Daddy’s daughter, and in all that I am in His eyes.

That’s my saved, savvy and chic prayer for you. May you embrace the Spirit’s divine assurance that you have a heavenly Daddy. May you fully accept your design and destiny as His daughter. May you believe all He sees – all you are in our Daddy’s eyes. Remember, His Spirit is the wind indwelling you, and with His faith, power and love inside, you are limitless and nothing less!