As I have stated in earlier posts, I just want to be a light in this dark world. I want to make a difference in other people’s lives the way so many have done in mine, whether they be family, friends, or mere acquaintances. I believe that God’s Love conquers all. It is the foundation that God gave to us through His son Jesus Christ. 
Rebekah has a best friend that she met in college a few years back. They were just casual friends at first, but as the Lord would have it, they have become quite close, sisters even. Preyal is such a sweet young lady. I first met her a couple of years ago at Columbia College where they attended. She is spunky, and is not afraid to speak her mind, but yet respectful. She is beautiful inside and out. Rebekah always spoke highly of her. It wasn’t until the end of Bekah’s Junior year going into her Senior year, that I realized just how special this young lady was to Bekah….. and how special she would be to our family.
From what Bekah has told me, Preyal was born in England just a few days after Bekah in 1992. She told me the other night that her family moved to the US not long after that. We joke that Bekah has an Indian friend, who was born in England and is now an American. Preyal lost her Dad to cancer when she was a young girl. So for a long time now it has been just her and her Mother Preksha.
Although I have not gotten to meet “Mommy Patel” as Rebekah calls her, I have spoken to her on the phone and we are friends on Facebook. What I do know is that although they have faced some hardship as a family, they have persevered and are two beautiful women that our family loves dearly. They are family in our book.
Every year in February, Columbia College has an activity called “Dad’s Night”. I had attended all four years with Rebekah as a student up until last February. As we got to know Preyal and had gotten closer to her and her mother, I asked Bekah last year to invite Preyal to come to Dad’s night with us if she wanted to. What I didn’t realize is that Preyal was pretty close to her dad and the thought of celebrating was too hard for her. I remember that at the last two Dad’s nights, that Preyal would leave campus, and come back later in the evening when the festivities were over. The one year, I waited for her to come back to campus, so that I could say hello and goodbye before going back to Gaffney. Bekah had told me sometime later that Preyal was touched by my gesture to stay behind just to say bye to her. I am not sure when exactly, but casually as I would get to say hi in passing when Bekah was on the phone with her (which is all the time), she began to call me Dad, and I would call her my Indian daughter. She got to come to Gaffney sometime last year and cook for our huge family an Authentic Indian dish. We enjoyed it so much, but enjoyed spending time with her even more. We have grown closer over these past couple of years. We Hughes’ tend to adopt people into our family without hesitation. We are a big family so another 2, 4, or ten people is no big deal for us.
As I was praying one day, It came to me again to have Rebekah contact Preyal, and tell her that I would like to bring Bekah and come down on Dad’s night this year (being her Senior year) and that we could maybe go out to eat or just do something so that she wouldn’t have to feel so bad on that night. So thankfully she said yes, she would love for Bekah and I to come down. So this past Saturday, Bekah and I headed to Columbia for “Dad’s Night”. We had a great time. We played games, had our picture taken in the booth, and got to go out to eat dinner together. We came back to campus and hung out for awhile. Reluctantly, she and Bekah got up and danced on the Wii game(I have video to prove it!). It was great to see her having a great time with her best friend.
As we were leaving Preyal gave me a sweet card thanking me for being a great “Dad” to her. For going out of my way to travel two hours away to be there for her. For me it was an honor. To share the Love that Christ has put into my heart, and to share the same kindness that He showed to me almost 30 years ago. When He accepted me into His Family. I want to not only say the words but to also to show Love to others. So if that means that I get to be a “Dad” to someone else who wants or needs one, that is alright with me. I would never ever try to take the place of Preyal’s Dad, and I have told her that. But I am here for her if she needs me, in whatever capacity that may be. Just like the Lord is here for all of us. So Preyal and Preksha, thank you for letting us be a part of your extended family. We love you and pray for you daily. You are part of the Hughes clan. (God help you. LOL) I love you my Indian daughter. I know that your Dad would be just as proud but probably so much more proud of the woman that you have turned into. I am here for you whenever you need me.
Love Dad
For This I’m Thankful………………
For This I'm Thankful 