By Scott McGee
Written Feb. 25, 1999
For my daughter Brekke
My oldest child, of teenage years,
Yearns to try her fledgeling wings.
To boldly soar adulthood's skies,
And explore adulthood's things.
Yet as her father, how can I stand,
And simply let her go,
As she stumbles from the nest I've built,
And tumbles to the ground below.
For years I've been her protector,
And kept her safe from harm.
Now I must let her fly away,
And leave my protecting arm.
She doesn't know the danger of,
The world around us here.
She doesn't know the ravenous wolves,
Who cause me so much fear.
Yet if I selfishly hold her back,
And never let her try,
She'll never grow in strength of wings,
And never learn to fly.
It's hard to watch her falter and fall.
It's hard to see her pain.
It's hard to let her make mistakes,
But I have to just the same.
I must stand and watch her boldly walk,
Into the hunter's snare,
And only help her free herself,
If she beckons me to come there.
She has to learn as I did too,
From mistakes that she will make.
Yet when I see her about to fall,
My heart cannot help but break.
So help me God, to let her go,
And protect her as she flies.
Please help her know how tall she stand,
Within her father's eyes.