One of the greatest honors God has given to the staff of the Vision Forum is the privilege of meeting some of the great men and women of our generation. It is wonderful to watch and dream and imagine what great things shall become of those young men and women who have chosen a narrow, but biblical path of service to the Lord. Yesterday I received a letter from one such young woman who for years we have observe demonstrate courage, creativity, energetic commitment and the many virtues of biblical womanhood—-all while serving the Lord beside her father. Her passion for family, faith, freedom and fatherhood prompted her to serve her father by organizing and managing some of the most life-changing Vision Forum retreats. I read her letter to my staff, and want to share it with you. The typical cynical crowd who mocks mothers and women who embrace their Titus 2 mission will never understand a letter like the one below, but for you who have eyes to see and ears to hear, these words are sweeter than honey. (P.S. Today is my wife Beall’s birthday. I am especially grateful for this writer’s kind and altogether true words about my bride on this occasion.)

I would like to take a few minutes to express what your family and ministry have meant to my family and myself, and why we so enjoy working with Vision Forum to coordinate various events. So many people ask me why I, as a daughter, work with my family to coordinate the Alabama Father/Son Retreats. The following letter is my answer.

Many times over the last few years people have asked me what I am doing with my time. I am sure you are quite familiar with this whole scenario ? a happy 22-year-old daughter living at home, not going to college, not working outside the home ? becomes the center of speculation on what she is really accomplishing this way. In the kind, benevolent manner that comes over people when they are in this state of mind, out comes the loaded question - ?So, what are you doing these days?? which can be translated to say ?What can you possibly be doing that is worthwhile if you?re not doing a, b, and c?? To this, my reply has been, ?I?m staying at home, enjoying being my father?s daughter.? For some, this is a sufficient answer as they are now thoroughly bewildered and trying to figure out what could be my real meaning behind this simple reply. It does not seem to occur to most people that my real meaning is truly, ?I?m staying at home, enjoying being my father?s daughter.? Is the whole world really convinced that the only thing a content, stay-at-home daughter can do is twiddle her thumbs while wearing a foolish, dreamy, dazed smile on her face and a far-off look in her eyes, fantasizing about some day doing something worthwhile? Sadly enough, this is often the opinion of not only the general public, but the Christian, home-educating community as well.

Then there are the bold few who probe a little deeper - ?So, what exactly do you mean by that?? My reply is generally a list of the goals that my father has currently challenged me to meet. During the planning of the March 2004 Father/Son Retreat, this was one of the items on the list. Among my friends, eyebrows went up over mischievously twinkling eyes as they jokingly prodded, ?OH, I see. So how old are these sons?? Of course, they were teasing, but that made me think, ?How can I express my excitement about seeing over 200 fathers and sons come together for a weekend of manly bonding and inspiration to greatness??

God has given my father a vision for multi-generational faithfulness which he has shared with all of us, his family. It is through the excellent Biblical teaching of many wise and godly men that he has been able to continually develop this vision, along with practical methods for putting this vision into practice. As a woman and daughter under my father?s authority, it is my joy and duty to serve and support him in whatever mission God gives him. Although it would not be appropriate for me as a young woman to instruct men, I am perfectly able to work under and alongside my father in bringing men together with other men, such as yourself and Mr. Scott Brown, whom God has powerfully equipped to share this vision. Our hope in doing this is that many fathers will catch this vision and then pass it on to their sons. We see the men of the Church as being the ones who will take dominion for Christ. My father has taught us that this is the hope for the future of families, churches and our nation. Yes, we may not see the fulfillment of our dreams in our generation, but if the fathers catch the vision and instill it into their sons, it will then be passed down, gaining momentum with each generation.

Our family has received a vision for this kind of womanhood and daughterhood in part from Vision Forum and the message that you and your family live out. ?What?s a Girl to Do?? is a talk that greatly influenced my thinking on the role of a daughter in my family and Christian community. Thank you so much for not only telling daughters that this way of life is normal, but that it is richly blessed as well! I sincerely hope more daughters will come to experience the joy of simply living to please their fathers and striving to be the most powerful assets their families have.

Beall, you have been an especially eloquent example to my sisters and me of the impact a contented, well-equipped woman of God can have when she is delighted to fulfill her role as an actively supportive wife and involved, exuberant mother. Today we see you as a happy wife and mother, but we know that your attitude and training did not simply come upon you the day of your marriage as a gift bestowed by good fairies. Your life today is inspiration to my sisters and me to daily strive to be submissive, conformable, and pliable in the hands of the father God has blessed us with. If what we see in you, your marriage and the marriages of other dynamic couples such as our dear friends Matt and Jennie Chancey [of Ladies Against Feminism] is a picture of what a Christian marriage should be - a picture of Christ and His bride - then Hallelujah! I cannot wait to experience this myself! In the mean time, my desire is to throw all of my energies into being the best daughter I can be to my father. I truly believe God is using my relationship with my father to train me to be a devoted wife and mother someday.

Please, please continue to preach the message that girls can, and indeed should, be actively and joyfully living a life of fulfillment under their father?s roof! There is indeed, contrary to popular opinion, a blessed life of joy and fulfillment in the home before marriage. This is a much-needed message of encouragement to many weary daughters who are wandering aimlessly in search of direction. Thank you so much for the impact you have had in my life and the life of my family. May God richly bless you, your charming wife and family, and all of those at Vision Forum who labor with you as you instill in the lives of Christians the world over a vision for who they are and can be in Christ.

Gratefully yours, Melissa Keen,
Devoted daughter and secretary to Tom Keen J