Daughters

(Psalms 144:12)  That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:

After reading our text my first thought was of how Jesus used natural things as metaphors in making spiritual points. In the case of this scripture the “trees and corner stones” were metaphors for our sons and daughters.

The purpose for comparing our sons to plants (or trees) was for showing their strength and endurance and the ability to stand firm through the storms of life. Every father’s desire is for his son to have those qualities.

However, the picture seems to change when it comes to describing daughters. They are described as “corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace”. This description seems more fitting for a wife than it does a young girl. As a matter of fact our entire text seems more fitting for husbands and wives than it does for sons and daughters.

If that is true then that would also explain why the Jewish Talmud explains the creation of man in such a masterful way. The Talmud says “An unmarried man is not a full man in the strictest sense. God created male and female and blessed them and called their name man”. The wife meant a home; hence the saying, “A man’s home is his wife”.

The thought behind the Talmud seems to fit our text where it says our daughters are as “corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace”.

With this wonderful description in mind I began to see my own daughter in a different light a few day ago while celebrating my eightieth birthday.  

Even though all of my children and their spouses participated in this wonderful event it was my two oldest daughters, (Vikki and Jan) who thought up this whole idea.

The girls found a large ranch (out in the middle of nowhere) that had several houses on it and rented all of them. There was a house for each one of my children and a house for my wife, our youngest daughter and me. The ranch was so far out that it did not have internet service or television. The idea was to spend time as a family while celebrating my birthday without the noise of a television or the distraction of ringing cell phones.

I must admit this whole plan was ingenious and by the time it was over everyone wanted to do it again.

I suppose my point in telling this story is that I saw my daughters in an entirely different light those three days. They seem to transition from daddy’s little girls wearing pony tells or fluffy little dresses to “corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace”. Corner stones that are strong enough and certainly worthy enough to be called the home as referenced in the Talmud.

Who are these incredible people called daughters? I am not sure. However, I have come to the conclusion that they can be whatever they need to be at any given time.

Father,

Thank You for these miracle workers called daughters and for their God given ability to be as strong as a “corner stone” and yet as tender and fragrant as a rose. I also thank You Lord for allowing me to learn another lesson about Your wonderful creation…daughters.

Amen