Daughter, Watch How He Loves

Come sit with me a minute
before you take those keys.
There’s one thing I hope you remember
when you don’t need advice from me.

Anybody can bring roses
when Friday night is young,
say all the right things softly
when nothing has gone wrong.
But watch him on a hard day,
when plans fall through somehow.
Watch the way he holds his temper
when the answer from you is no.
Watch how he talks to strangers
who can’t do a thing for him.
That’s where a heart gets honest.
That’s where you look within.

Daughter, watch how he loves,
not just the words he says.
Watch how he holds your heart
when he’s angry or afraid.
Does your laughter get louder?
Does your whole world open up?
Do you still feel like yourself
when you’re standing next to him?
Anybody can say forever
when forever still feels young.
Don’t just listen when he says it—
daughter, watch how he loves.

Watch him when you’re shining,
when the room calls out your name.
Does he stand there proud beside you,
or try to dim your flame?
Watch him when you’re weary,
when you’ve got nothing left to give.
Does he make the load feel lighter?
Does he make it safe to live?
And when he makes a mistake—
because, honey, we all do—
does he hide behind his pride,
or come back and tell the truth?

Daughter, watch how he loves,
not just the words he says.
Watch how he holds your heart
when he’s angry or afraid.
Does your laughter get louder?
Does your whole world open up?
Do you still feel like yourself
when you’re standing next to him?
Anybody can say forever
when forever still feels young.
Don’t just listen when he says it—
daughter, watch how he loves.

And I haven’t always known this.
I learned some things too late.
There were times I called it loving
when I should have given space.
Love is not a hand that holds you
so tight you cannot breathe.
The right one won’t make you smaller
just to make you never leave.
I can’t choose your road for you.
I wouldn’t if I could.
I only pray you choose somebody
who makes your good life better still.

Daughter, watch how he loves,
especially when life gets hard.
Watch how carefully he carries
what you trusted to his heart.
May your laughter grow louder.
May your whole world open up.
May you never lose yourself
trying to prove that you’re enough.
And if someday you say forever,
I’ll be standing there because
I saw more than how he wanted you—
I watched how he loved.

So go and live your own life.
Make mistakes. Take your time.
Just remember—
love should never cost you
the woman you were born to become.
Daughter...
watch how he loves.