One thing I hate about being a dad.

About a month ago my daughter heard a sermon in Sunday school about insecurity.

Later that day she opened up to us for the first time about her self image struggles.

I stood in disbelief as my little baby talked about not feeling pretty enough, cool enough or good enough.

I almost burst into tears as she confessed that she wished she looked like ______.

Naturally I went into preacher mode, throwing every scripture, story or illustration I could at her hoping to somehow kill this self image monster that was fighting for my little girls heart.

But the more I tried, the more I realized this was gonna be a lifelong battle.

2 hrs later I was driving around balling my eyes out to God. Not sure exactly what I said.

Maybe something like this...
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Dear Jesus,

Ah. I hate this. I wanna scream. I know this is normal for everyone else but you've got to make an exception for my little girl.

Seriously. You've got to stop this.

Please.

I know I'm not allowed to ask for exceptions. But I have to. I have no hope. I'm desperate. I'm pleading.

Please God. Spare my daughter from the battle against insecurity.
I never want her to not feel pretty/good/beautiful/smart enough.

Please. Anything else but this.

You can do anything. I'm pleading with you. Please help her fight this battle.
No, I don't want her to fight it.

Can you at least show me how I can fight it for her?
I'll take double or triple the insecurity on myself.

I'll carry this burden. I will.

God, I can't take the thought of her one day not seeing herself the way I see her.
The way you see her.

It kills me that she doesn't feel pretty enough. It breaks my heart.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
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Scream. Tears. Scream. Tears.

I hate sin. I hate brokenness.

I love being a dad but this...
I hate this.

I hate that my princess will have to feel inadequate.

This is gonna be one of the hardest battles I'm ever gonna fight cause I can't really fight it.

I can't fix it. Carry it. Duct tape it.

My little girl will have to. She'll have to cling to the gospel for herself.

This drives me nuts.

All I can do is be the best dad I can be. I just wish I could do more.

I wish I could do something so she never has to have 'that feeling' of inadequacy.

Ladies, moms, sisters, I could use some help.

What do you know now that you wish you knew before about your insecurities?

Brothers, dads, fellas, please chime in too.

What's your experience with insecurity?