Father Daughter Dance – A Spiritual

Get to feel the love of your family by reading this original  spiritual story of Laura Cade

“Why can’t he see me for who I am??” Abigail bemoaned inwardly, staring up at the old elm tree outside her bedroom window. “My whole life he has simply projected an image onto me, which doesn’t even come close to the real me. I was supposed to be his sweet little girl who got good grades in school, never did anything wrong and admired him unquestioningly.”

At the age of 20, Abigail now realized that she had been duped. She had believed her father when he projected this image onto her time and time again. Why would she ever doubt him when he acted like he always knew everything? Now, with the eyes of an adult, she was painfully aware that he didn’t see her, therefore, he didn’t know her at all. She sat on her window seat and brainstormed how she would get him to finally see the real her.

He showed up one day later that week to bring her some of the things she had left behind in her old room.

“What–no hug?” he asked after she opened the door for him and then walked away.

“Dad, I need to talk to you.”

“Uh-oh, this doesn’t sound good,” he said in a sarcastic tone of voice.

Abigail turned around and glared at him. “This is serious. Have a seat, Dad.”

They each took a seat in the den. “Now, what’s all the fuss about, sweetheart?”

“First of all, Dad, I’m not, nor have I ever been, your sweetheart.” She took a deep breath and clasped her hands together so that he wouldn’t notice how much they were shaking. “This isn’t easy to say. I’ve come to some, uhm, realizations about you and our relationship.” She paused and chewed on her lower lip while looking out the window.

“What is it, Abby?” he asked, with an edge of concern in his voice.

She looked up after a minute or so, her eyes glistening with tears. “You don’t see me, Daddy.” All her strength, all her energy went flying out the window as she, once again, became his little princess.

“Of course I see you. I see you all the time,” he said with a smile.

“No, no, that’s not what I meant.” She cleared her throat and paused for a minute, collecting her thoughts and willing the Universe to give her strength. “All these years I’ve looked up to you, obeyed you and trusted you without question. Now that I’m an adult I see that you never got to know me; you just expected me to be your little princess.”

“But I do know you, Abby. I know that you love soccer and parties and mint chip ice cream. I know that your favorite Beatle is John and at some point you’d like to travel the world.”

“That’s not me, Dad. Those are just things–just likes and dislikes,” she paused again, at a loss. “I’ve been wracking my brain, trying to figure out how I can communicate this to you, so you understand where I’m coming from. The answer must not be up there…” she gazed out the window, ignoring her father’s confused stare. The willow tree caught her eye. She focused on it for a moment, quieting her mind. She became still like the tree, her back straight and tall against her seat. She breathed slowly, exhaling a warm breeze.

“What do you feel when you look at that tree?” she asked gently, nodding towards it.

“What do I feel? What kind of a question is that?” he asked, looking even more confused.

“Just sense how you feel, Dad.”

He begrudgingly looked at the tree for several seconds then looked back at her. “I feel no different than I always do, Abby. What’s going on? Are you feeling alright?”

“I’m feeling wonderfully, dad. A lot better than you are, I’d imagine.” She thought for a moment then looked him straight in the eye. “Here’s what I’d like for you to do: every day for the next month just sit in front of a tree and look. Come back here once the month is up and tell me what you’ve discovered.”

“This is important to you, I can tell,” he sighed. “Okay, Abigail, I will do what you asked. Can I ask why, though, before I leave?”

“If you want to know who I am then this exercise will show you as long as you take it seriously.”

Every day for the next month, he sat in front of the tree in his backyard for a couple of hours. The first several days he grew bored and tiresome, not understanding what he was supposed to feel, but determined to have something to report. After a couple weeks, he started to notice the leaves blowing in the wind and the birds hopping along the branches. At the beginning of the third week, he saw the multitude of colors each leaf had and the sturdiness of the tree’s demeanor. During this week, he also started to notice a feeling of stillness deep within him.

The fourth week evoked a peace he never knew existed. Gazing at the tree with wonder, he suddenly had the awareness that this was what Abby was trying to get him to sense. He stood at her doorstep, his hands clasped together nervously. She opened the door and stood there, gazing at her father in awe. His eyes were as bright as a Christmas tree and his grin as serene as a lake. He stepped forward and took her in his arms, embracing her for what felt like the first time. After a moment, she opened her mouth to speak. Before she got a chance, though, he said, “No…thank you.”

Spiritual Story by Laura Cade

Burden – Short Spiritual Story

Get inspired by reading original spiritual stories

He could hardly walk. He was carrying an unseen burden.

His feet were heavy, as if there were a million passages clung to his tired shoes. His heart was heavy, as if a million sinful thoughts were stuffed into his intentions. His eyes were heavy, as if a million repentant tears flooded the gates of his life. His hands were heavy, as if holding a million-page book of decaying deeds. His head was heavy, as if a million evil plans were stuck in his tomorrow. His lips were heavy, as if a million complaints buzzed in silence.

With so much burden — that slowed down his speed to redemption — he entered the sacred place.

God was waiting for him since long — they talked.

When he came out, he went away flying.