Cinderella

I heard a song about a week ago on the way to work called "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman. I had heard it before, so I was able to sing along a little. As I listened and sang a few words, I found myself choking up with tears. I haven't listened to a song that made me cry in a LONG time! The imagery of a father, busy with work, but making time for his little girl - that got the tears started. Then thinking of the girl growing up and eventually leaving home - well, that sealed the deal. I couldn't stop crying, thinking about my own little girls and how I want them to have all the good that life can offer, but how it leaves me feeling a little sad when I think of them leaving home someday. It's hard to describe what becoming a father has done to me, but I'm definitely not the same man I was. I'm grateful for the change. Here's the song - the video isn't important. Listen to it once before reading the text at the bottom of this post.



What makes the song even more powerful is knowing that Chapman wrote and published it for his oldest daughter when she became engaged, but shortly after it was published, he lost his five year old daughter in a car accident. Knowing that, listen to the song again. That gives it a little extra meaning that makes me even more prone to tears than just the original, intended message by itself. It makes me want to cherish the relationships I have with my girls and with all of my family, knowing that our time together is limited ... and may be more limited than we sometimes think.