Philip, I want to tell you a story.
And like all good stories， it starts like this...
Once upon a time, there was a father and in case you can't figure that out, that's me. This father has a wonderful little boy. He was very happy. Then one day, he found out his wife was going to have another baby. So I prayed, “Lord if it's your will...make her a little girl.” And he did.
I was the first to hold her in my arms. And I looked at her and said, “Lord, make her like her mother.” And he did. She was loving and giving and so good and so kind. But then I realized I was getting left out. So I said, “Lord, make her like me.” And he did.
She could drive a truck and a tractor. She could load hay and chew tobacco. Do you realize what you're getting? But at the same time, she was opinionated , emotional and hard-headed . So I said, “Lord, that's enough of that! Make her like YOU.” And he did.
He gave her the desire to serve people. She loves people. She gave her life to being a nurse. She's brought people back from the dead. And she's held the hand of people who have breathed their last breath. He gave her a heart for missions and she's trekked all over the world. Pushed canoes up swollen rivers. Laid on the floor and bullets whizzed outside. So she could tell people about Jesus. But still something was missing. So I said, “Lord, make her happy.” And she met you.
You see that look on her face? I never saw that, until she met you. And I'm grateful for that. Today I'm giving you the best thing I have to give. And I just wanted you to know before I do that... How hard me and God has worked to get her ready. So Philip, as I give her to you. I don't think you'll mind if I give you one more word of advice. Me and God's worked hard...Don't screw it up .
菲利普，我要给你讲个故事。
这好故事吧，它都是这么开头的……
从前，有一个爸爸，我怕你听着糊涂，这个爸爸就是我。这个爸爸有个很棒的儿子，他很幸福。有一天，他发现妻子又怀孕了。于是我祈祷：“上帝啊，如果这是您的旨意，那就让这个宝宝是个女儿吧。”上帝照办了。
我是第一个拥她入怀的人。我看着她，祈祷：“上帝啊，让她像她妈妈一样吧。”上帝照办了。她果然有爱心，懂奉献，美极了，善良极了。但我突然意识到我把自己给落下了，于是我祈祷：“上帝啊，让她也像我一样吧。”上帝照办了。
这个女孩儿开得了卡车，动得了拖拉机，搬得了干草，嚼得了烟叶。这下知道你将得到的是什么宝贝了吧？同时呢，她有点儿固执、情绪化，甚至还有点儿强硬。所以我又祈祷来着：“上帝啊，够了够了，让她像您一样吧。”上帝照办了。
上帝赐给了她服务全人类的愿望，她爱大家。她把毕生献给护士这个职业。她曾经把病人从鬼门关拉了回来。她也曾握着病人的手，送他们走完最后一程。上帝给了她一颗传道的心，她远涉千山，足迹遍及全世界。她曾推着独木舟迎着暴涨的河流而上，也曾在呼啸而过的枪林弹雨中卧倒在地。这样，她才能向众人传播上帝的福音。但我还是觉得少了点儿什么，于是我又祈祷：“上帝呀，赐给她幸福吧。”就这样，她遇到了你。
你看见我女儿脸上的表情了吗？遇到你之前，我从来没有见过她那样的表情。这我得谢谢你。今天我要把我最珍贵的宝贝交给你了。交给你之前，我得先让你知道……我和上帝费了多大劲才把她塑造成现在这样。所以呀，女婿，当我把她交给你的时候，我觉得你不会介意我再多嘱咐你两句：我和上帝不容易啊……你可千万别把我们的作品给弄砸了。
-opinionated [əˈpɪnjəneɪtɪd] adj. 固执己见的
-hard-headed [ˌhɑːdˈhedɪd] adj. 精明的；顽固的
-trek [trek] v. 长途跋涉
-whiz [wɪz] v. 发出嗖嗖声；高速移动
screw...up 〈口〉把……搞糟
婚礼进行曲响起，追光灯下，红毯两端。暖暖的大手，红红的眼眶，爸爸此刻都是多情的“小气鬼”。