daddy’s girls I feature story
Story by Marti Miller • Photographed by Jonathan Boatwright
“So I will dance with Cinderella; While she is here in my arms;
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew; Oh I will dance with Cinderella;
I don’t want to miss even one song; ‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be gone.”
W
Chip Scruggs with his daughter, Anna
Father-of-the-Bride,
Chip Scruggs
hether you prefer the 1950 Spencer Tracy version or the 1991 Steve Martin remake, The
Father of the Bride is arguably one of the most endearing depictions of the special relationship between dads and daughters, especially as they prepare to move into new relationship
shoes – ones that may pinch a little at first and sometimes rub the wrong way. But a certain glass
slipper, when it finds the right foot, can begin a lifelong love story…first for dad and daughter, and
then for daughter and her charming prince.
This particular Father of the Bride, unlike the dad in the movies, has taken part in many, many weddings. But the one that will happen on July 12, 2014, will be quite different. He will be giving away his
only daughter, or, as he calls her, “My Boo”. Not only will he be walking her down the aisle, he will be
performing the covenant marriage ceremony – the one that is between his daughter, her husband,
and God. This is particularly fitting, as he presided over her baptism ceremony on a cold and rainy
Mother’s Day a number of years earlier. And it was his very first baptism as an ordained minister.
James S. Scruggs II, aka “Chip”, aka “Pastor”, aka Dad, aka Papa, and, as of a recent Sunday in
March, aka Doctor Scruggs, relates more with the Steve Mart in version of the movie. This is not
because of his keen sense of comedic timing. Rather, he relates to his spot-on portrayal of a dad
missing the very end of his daughter’s wedding reception and going-away because he’s been accidently locked out of the party – perhaps a symbolic reference to the closing out of one part of his
daughter’s life and the beginning of a new one. He also confesses to a painful understanding of
wedding expense, but chooses instead to focus on the heart of the matter – the covenant nature of
marriage between the couple and God.
Interviewing a father and daughter together before the wedding was perhaps not the best choice,
but time was a-wasting and it seemed like such a good idea. And, as things turned out, it really was
a very good idea – not so much because it saved precious time to do a dual session, but because it
allowed the true beauty of their relationship to shine through. Unfortunately, it also created a great
difficulty in figuring out exactly how to frame and accurately describe the precious picture of this father and only daughter relationship. This is, of course, the all-about-men issue – but the bride’s story
also begs to be told. Anna Katherine Scruggs is an amazing young woman with just the right blend of
mom and dad traits peeking through her own godly nature.
Dad and daughter listened attentively as the other was interviewed and respectfully disagreed
on just a few tiny family history details. It was evident that they enjoy each other’s company and
share a mutual admiration and affection, with a healthy dose of humor tossed in for good measure. Case in point: when asked what he has learned from his daughter, Steve Martin Scruggs first
answered: “You mean besides patience?” Groan.
It was during a family trip to Disney World last summer that Cody Buffkin (groom-to-be) proposed to Anna. Before leaving for that trip, Anna had purchased a pair of “glass slippers” for her
niece to wear during a surprise birthday Disney Princess Makeover. Little did she know that one
of those slippers would play a big role for her too. She found it rather odd that during one family
supper, Cody kept checking his phone, his backpack, and excusing himself to visit the restroom.
The pair left after the meal for a trip alone to the Polynesian Resort. When they arrived and found
the Wedding Pavilion closed for maintenance, Cody became distraught and Anna wondered why.
As rain clouds threatened to give them a good dousing, he finally let go of his secret plan and
pulled one of those glass slippers from his backpack and said he knew the tiny shoe didn’t fit, but
she would be his princess for the rest of their lives if she would answer yes to becoming his wife.
Of course, she did – just as the Disney rains began to fall. Then, as if on Mickey’s cue, the evening
sky erupted with a burst of color from the Disney festival of lights parade and fireworks at the park.
Chip Scruggs has been serving God for many years. He is currently the lead pastor at Revelation Ministries in Marion, SC. He and
his wife Karen also have two older sons, Jamie and Matthew, and a granddaughter, Brooklynn, along with a growing adopted
faith family.
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June 2014
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