3-Year-Old Daughter Of Fallen Officer Prays For Dad

3-Year-Old Daughter Honors Fallen Police Officer Daddy

When police officers promise to serve and protect, they know it's a decision that could cost them their lives. Georgia Deputy Sheriff Cruz Thomas lost his in a high speed chase in 2014 while trying to catch a traffic violator. Because of his sacrifice, his 8-month-old daughter, Taliya, would grow up without her father. But while her daddy may be gone, he's certainly not forgotten. And now that she's older, Deputy Thomas' 3-year-old daughter honors her fallen police officer daddy in a very special way!

Keeping The Memory Alive

Taliya is too young to remember her daddy first hand. But she's heard plenty of stories about him as she's grown, especially from her paternal grandpa, Sheriff Stevie Thomas. And she's spent her life talking to her daddy in Heaven through prayer.

Taliya's grandparents have been taking the little girl to birthday photoshoots with Georgia-based photographer Mary Lee for most of her life.

“She is just the sweetest, cutest little girl. She just lights up a room,” Mary said.

Every year, Megan makes sure the birthday session includes tribute images.

And so, in this year's photos, the 3-year-old daughter honors her late father with a touching prayer.

RELATED: Son's touching tribute to his fallen police officer father

A Photo Tribute

The pictures are beautiful and the photoshoot, which took place on 9/11, had some pretty incredible moments. When Taliyah's grandmother suggested the little girl say a prayer, the sweet girl dropped to her knees, praying for her daddy along with other fallen officers and all who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

Megan captured the sweet moment of prayer, made even more heartrending seeing Taliya in her father's uniform shirt and hat.

"To be so young, she understands her daddy is in heaven and she knows he watches over her," Megan explained.

The shoot took place in a giant field. As a result, there was a yellow butterfly that kept fluttering around Taliya. And the precious girl had the sweetest explanation of why.

Megan says the 3-year-old said, "That’s my daddy. He’s sending me butterfly kisses from heaven."

RELATED: Powerful photo of 2 kids praying for their police officer daddy

It's truly touching the way this 3-year-old daughter honors her father. Megan said she tries to come up with a new theme each year for the photoshoots. While she hasn't yet planned next year's, she says that they will continue to take photos that honor Taliya's late father.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

The photo of this tiny dancer kissing her police officer daddy goodbye is almost too much for my heart to take!

h/t: FOX 5 News