Daddy

Daddy. He is a friend to many, a pastor to some, son to my grandparents, husband to my mom, but Daddy to me... and my siblings. He is David Kevin Brown.

He calls me Kate. He's the one I'm most like. He is the man who has always been apart of my life. It was his voice I heard every week night as he came in the door with his briefcase. He is the one tall enough to reach things for anyone on the top shelf. He would sit down and listen to all your problems. He would talk to you till kingdom come. He always sang Love Lifted Me over me before bed. He slathered sunscreen over my white shoulders. He made me smile when I was sick. He can still easily shoot three-pointers. He sledded down the hill with me in the winter and camped with me in the summer. He loves pound cake. He kissed the top of my head as I played the piano when I was 8, and he still does even though I'm 18. He prays for me every morning. He loves us. He loves Jesus... and he lives for His Kingdom.



Daddy holding me. Ignore date.. it's obviously wrong. :)

My Daddy, like my Mama, has been there since the start. Maybe since they have always been there I could be accused of taking their faithful presence for granted. I have taken it for granted.
My Daddy amazes me. Is he perfect? No. Has he made me mad before? Well, you better believe it! We both like to be "right." But you can't stay mad at him long. I'm not sure how, but he makes holding a grudge... boring. My Daddy gives constantly. I rarely ever see him be the "taker." I remember him saying to me one day, "There are givers and takers in this world. Be a giver." He is the hardest worker I know. Sometimes he works too hard. Yet, the work is not for fame or wealth, but for the Kingdom. See, Daddy practices what he preaches. He says to believe the Bible, so he acts like he believes it. He stores up treasures in Heaven.

Daddy taught me how to believe. He gave me the keys to more than an education, case of trophies or a nice car. He gave me the keys to success. How's that? He taught me how to have faith and then he told me that I must choose to believe God. He didn't say, "Do as I say, not as I do." He lived it out.

Daddy was the one who I woke up beside in Ethiopia one May night in 2009 on a mission trip. He lay there shaking and delirious. I talked to him, but he didn't answer. It may have seemed crazy, but at that moment I thought I was going to lose him. I really realized that I need my Dad. I had never been so happy as the day he sat up in the bed and said, "Kate, I feel good today." We've been through it together.

11 months ago I sat on a plane in Sudan on the way to Ethiopia for the second time. I looked out the window at the barren and dry land. I cried. Not because of the poverty out the window, but because I was realizing... God was showing me, that I was in love. Daddy sat by me as I poured out my heart. He listened as I told him how I felt about Josh. And now, less than a year later, he will walk me down the aisle to him.

Kevin Brown has taken care of me for 18 years. He has loved me with all of his heart. He is my protector. He has faithfully and patiently lead me to Jesus. He will give his responsibility over me to my husband. His job will be over. But he will always be my Daddy. I'll always hug him and love how my head comes right to where his heart is so I can hear it beat. I'll always remember his devotions before bed, his kisses in the morning. He'll always be the one who had my heart first.

Thank you, Daddy. Thank you for everything. I'll always be your little girl.