The story goes like this: One day an average guy named Bob (who also happened to be a great singer) started thumbing through old family photos. Picture by picture, he watched his then 16-year-old daughter, Brooke, growing up right before his eyes.

Seeing Brooke go from infant, to toddler, to elementary student, to teenager, Carlisle says, "I came to the stark realization...that I don’t have this child, my daughter, under my roof for too much longer." So he did what came naturally. He wrote a sentimental ballad about his feelings of love for his daughter, enlisting trusted friend Randy Thomas to help.

As far as Carlisle was concerned, that was the end of that. He shared the song with his family, and then filed it away as his personal little gift for Brooke to treasure.

Now the plot thickens. It came time for Carlisle to record a new album. (Did I mention he’s a great singer?). One by one the songs fell into place, but for some reason Carlisle found himself one tune short of a full album.

Seeing the opportunity, Carlisle’s wife, Jacque, made her pitch. Why not include Brooke’s song on the album? Carlisle was reluctant, but finally conceded, recording a heart-stirring rendition of the song he titled "Butterfly Kisses."

The album was released...and nobody seems to notice Brooke’s song. In fact, another song from the CD, "Mighty Love," was the first to chart in Christian music circles. But before long, "Butterfly Kisses" started catching on, eventually winning the coveted 1997 Dove Award for "Song of the Year."

Then, suddenly, almost overnight, "Butterfly Kisses" exploded onto mainstream radio, making grown men cry while selling millions of records and dominating the number one spot in the country for several weeks. Next thing you know, the self-proclaimed "Dad of Pop" was everywhere—appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Entertainment Tonight, and more.

Carlisle still shakes his head in awe at the unprecedented success of the song. He says, "Anytime your music affects people’s lives, you really realize that God has bent down and touched it a little bit. That will always be the most important thing for me."

And affect people’s lives it has. Long before it became a hit, "Butterfly Kisses" seemed to have an impact.

First, it made Carlisle’s wife angry—because it made her cry. He reports that when Jacque originally heard the song, "She got mad at me because she got so emotional. She had to leave the house."

Then friends started saying things like, "That was my relationship with my dad," "I want to play that song at my wedding," and "I want my dad to hear this song."

When it finally hit the airwaves, the stories multiplied. Radio stations reported phone lines jammed with people talking about the song. One dad called in to say he was so moved by the song, he was taking the day off to spend it with his daughter. Another father actually dented his car after hearing the song—his eyes had so filled with tears, he couldn’t see to drive!

Through it all, Carlisle does his best to maintain a balanced perspective. He knows the phenomenon of "Butterfly Kisses" will quickly pass, but his role as a husband and father won’t. "God didn’t put me on this earth to evangelize the world," Carlisle emphasizes. "God put me here to be Jacque’s husband and Brooke and Evan’s dad."

Commenting on the whirlwind of success he’s experienced, Carlisle admits his calendar is busier, but other than that, nothing has changed. "My life is about the same things it has been about before—my wife, my family, my friends, and my Lord."

And when people assume Carlisle is the next expert on parenting, he just laughs. "I’m not the model of perfect fatherhood. I’m just a guy who wrote a song for his kid."

He adds, "I don’t know that I have any great wisdom to impart about being a parent. We all struggle along the best we can. God’s grace is absolutely necessary to fill in the gaps between what these children need and what they get from us."

What can we expect next from Bob Carlisle? For starters, there’s a song about Brooke’s younger brother, Evan, to be included on Carlisle’s next album. There’s a much-needed vacation Carlisle describes this way, "A week with my family...where I look forward to talking with my wife and children about anything except ‘Butterfly Kisses!’" Then he says a tour is in order, "To meet some of the sweet folks that have taken this music to their hearts."

And, feeling a bit sentimental once more, Carlisle reflects, "I don’t deserve a lot of what I’ve done. I don’t deserve to have this woman who’s been in love with me for [20] years...I’m very fortunate that I have a family that’s a very loving little family...I realize how big that is. How insignificant I would be without God’s grace! I am truly gifted."

And for this story at least, that’s the happiest ending of all.

SIDEBAR

"My music is one man’s heart being poured out... It’s one man’s relationship with his family and with his God. It’s one man’s confession of how imperfect he is, and yet how pursued and cherished [he is] by God."

"We’re kind of ‘Joe Family.’ Generally we all are so busy with school, work, and [volunteer work]. when we have time together alone, we’ll stay home and barbecue or we’ll go to the movies and dinner...[Or we’ll] just sit in the back yard and go to bed early!"

"I’m a great cook...I love to cook!"

Thanks...I look forward to meeting everyone, coming to your churches, homes....Thank you for buying all the records and staying with me all the years. I will continue to pour my heart out as long as I have breath."