Will You Come and Dance with Your Pappa Again?”

 

Joe had only one treasure in his life—his daughter, Madeline.

Her mother had passed away during childbirth, so from the very first day, Joe became everything to her: father, comforter, protector, friend.

When Madeline was five, Christmas meant only one thing—dancing with Papa.

Every Christmas Eve, the little house would glow with lights, the tree would sparkle, and Madeline would stand on Joe’s shoes as they danced slowly across the floor. Laughter filled the room. Love filled the house.

Years passed.

Madeline grew up. Friends came. Voices grew louder than Papa’s. One Christmas Day she said, “Papa, I’m going with my friends.”

Joe smiled, but his heart broke quietly.

That Christmas, Madeline left home.

She went with her cousin to a distant town. Parties replaced prayers. The world promised joy but delivered pain. A boyfriend betrayed her, leaving her with nothing but a handbag and a wounded heart. Like the prodigal child, she tasted hunger, loneliness, and shame.

One day, her cousin handed her a bundle of letters.

They were all from her father.

Christmas cards. Notes. Letters written year after year.

And every letter had the same line:

“Will you come home and dance with your Papa again?”

Madeline broke down and wept.

She packed her clothes, took a bus, and came home.

It was December 25 — Christmas Day.

The old house stood quietly.

The Christmas tree was ready.

And Papa… was waiting.

She opened the door.

No words were needed.

That night, father and daughter danced again—on Christmas Eve.

Love restored. Relationship healed.

Near the door, on the floor, lay one final letter with her name on it.

Her father’s simple request once more:

“Will you come and dance with your Papa again?”

Beloved, this is the Christmas story.

Not just about Madeline and Joe—but about us and our Heavenly Father.

No matter how far we wander…

No matter how broken we feel…

The Father keeps writing letters.

Grace after grace.

Invitation after invitation.

And every Christmas, heaven asks us gently:

“Will you come home and walk with Me again?”

“Will you come and rejoice in My presence again?”

Today is Christmas.

The door is open.

The Father is waiting.

Will you come home… and dance with Him again?

*selected.story by max lucado