A friend of mine was inspired to write this and wanted to share it. In wanting to keep his privacy as well, he asked me to share it without disclosing his identity. I'm happy to do so, as there is something important in here for all dads of little girls. -Shelli

Even if the truth hurts, the truth is that most of us don't want to hear the truth.

Today as I sat on my deer stand, a place where I'm able to think about a lot of things such as how to stop world hunger or how to improve the way I cook burgers on the grill… Today my thoughts - or maybe a better word - my guilt focused on my shortcomings as a father, and a husband.

In the last few years of my life, I've learned to accept blame and responsibility for my bad decisions, but that doesn't always mean I have learned from all of them or have been willing to change my behavior in order to correct the problems they cause to myself or others.

I am not proud to say, but am willing to admit that it's usually due to my own selfishness.

A couple of years ago, my wife gave me a book that I breezed through and thought it was pretty neat.

Recently I picked up that book because it had been moved by our cleaning lady on my desk.

The title of the book is “Why A Daughter Needs A Dad.”

God intervened at that point and I stopped to look through the book again. The first entry caught my attention as it was at this point in my 8-year-old daughter’s life that make-up and clothes - looking cute -are beginning to be relevant.

The entry said that a daughter needs a dad to teach her that the value of a person is not based on the way they look, the photo illustrations are a touching reality of the importance of each entry.

I thought to myself that I'd place the book in a location that would make it easier to read an entry every day.

I thumbed to the next page. It said a daughter needs a dad to sacrifice, so she won't have to.

I thought about that entry for a day or so. It immediately brought on guilt that was more than well-deserved. I began to really understand that I was the one and only person that she would compare to every man’s behavior and treatment of people - specifically women and more specifically her.

In other words, what she would consider acceptable for the quality and outcome of most of her life.

This is the most important part and the reason for this admission of guilt is that I felt it was something that needed to be passed on to every man in this world, in hopes that it would make some sort of difference, even though I point no finger at anyone but myself.

Let me repeat myself, I am the example of what she should expect from every man, especially her future partner in life when she gets ready to make that decision.

Recently I have become aware that she wants to please me with every task she takes on. When she wants to show me her latest gymnastic accomplishment, just before she starts, she glances at me to make sure I'm watching.

She wants my encouragement and approval.

This is the case in everything she attempts.

She watches everything I do.

In every situation she carefully analyzes my reaction.

As the head of my family, according to GOD’S word I'm to be the spiritual leader, an example of what a man and especially a father should be, a task that I fail at miserably.

She is the spiritual leader of our family; an excellent demonstration of what this child is made of.

When an argument or disagreement occurs in our home, she is the referee.

In a nutshell she is the example of what we all should strive to be.

At this point, as I have cleaned my mirror so I can see myself very clearly, the reflection I see is not one that I would approve of to be anything like the man that I hope she will someday marry.

I will not attempt to excuse myself with “I do the best I can," when the truth is, I don't.

I do love my daughter very much and as I stand here today the question I ask myself is: Can I change the opinion I have of myself as a daddy? I figure I have a little time left to make the proper impression before my opportunity is gone.

Sometimes the truth does hurt and sometimes it helps.

I believe in my case, in this situation, it's done both.