There are very few moments in life where we experience such pure elation and joy that we literally fall to the ground. That’s why one special Sunday will always stick out in Jerome Mondy’s mind.

That overwhelming feeling of happiness took ahold of the Georgia dad as he danced alongside the congregation at Divine Faith Ministries International one morning in February. But it wasn’t the church service itself that moved him so much he lost his balance. It was the sight of an unexpected visitor.

You see, the loving father has spent a long time missing his daughter, Navy Petty Officer Jadiah Mondy. For the past two years, the 24-year-old has been stationed at a U.S. Naval base in Japan. Jerome was looking forward to her upcoming return, but what he didn’t know was that she’d come home a week early.

Jadiah knew how much her arrival would mean to her dad, so she plotted with her mom Wanda and older brother, Isaac, to make the moment as unforgettable as possible. And they didn’t disappoint. While Jerome was busy busting a move on stage at church, Jadiah and Isaac sneaked up and joined him on either side while another person recorded. He didn’t even notice at first.

But then, after a few seconds, he looked over, realizing the woman next to him was his beloved daughter, whom he hadn’t seen in so long.

The shock was visible on his face as he stared, losing balance and falling to the floor. While Jerome was fine, he probably didn’t believe what he was seeing at first. Jadiah’s surprise had worked a little too well. “I was surprised, actually,” Isaac said. “I didn’t think he was going to fall for real.”

“It was a great surprise,” Jerome said. “I grabbed and hugged her. I picked her up. When I did get a chance to talk to her, I said, ‘How you got here?”’ And for the rest of the video, he didn’t leave her side.

There’s a reason why watching videos of service members surprising their families will never get old. It’s because seeing the all-encompassing love, relief, and absolute delight at having loved ones home safe again never fails to bring happy tears to our eyes. Thank you for your service, Jadiah, and enjoy your time with your family!

Watch as Jadiah shocks her father in the best way possible in the video below, and share to spread the joy.

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