I’m the other daughter. I’m the one that didn’t happen to be born in the cocoon of a happy marriage as my other siblings and I underwent a much more complex developmental process.

I’m the “awkward situation” we dare not discuss, subject to statements like “Oh I didn’t know he had a daughter this old”. When they said the first would be last, I didn’t think this was what they meant. I felt last, out of place, insignificant and like an inconvenience my parents should have avoided.

I was wrong.

I had based my entire sense of self worth on this ideal of my father when I was younger, so when I met him… Reality paled in comparison. I’m thinking I had watched “Annie” one too many times and expected him to fall in love with me instantly then break into a rendition of ‘tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow, you’re only a day away’! Unfortunately that didn’t happen, but it would have been cool wouldn’t it?

I can give you statistics and I can divulge a slew of information regarding how many of us are “the other daughter” but it wouldn’t be very helpful. We don’t need statistics to show us what we experience everyday. Numbers just don’t matter when something is hurting you, statistics can’t calculate the pain of feeling rejected.

Here’s the bright side….
You don’t need anyone to value you, for you to be valuable.

When you serve the Lord and you surrender your heart to Him, there’s a peace that overtakes you that people can’t understand. Every pain you’ve felt, begins to have a purpose. You’re not defined by your past or your pain because of His promises.

Nobody, not even your parents have the right to devalue you either by word or deed. God already esteemed you and called you blessed! You were woven in purpose and are a testament of his love for humanity, because now the pain you’ve endured has made you so strong that you love so fearlessly… You change the world around you!

I’m the other daughter, a woman of purpose power and strength. I was predestined by God to be used as an instrument of His love, to share my story and impact the lives of broken women.

I am strong.
I am healed.
I am whole.

Who are you?