The Plague of Fatherlessness
It was good to be back into t
he swing of things today. I was able to get in some errands and to get in a good workout at the fitness center. I also received a call about my first, small, lobbying opportunity. I’m glad for just a small start. Reminds me of my first steps with a walker.
As I share about father’s today, I did not find a picture that I was thinking about with my father, my son and his son. So I am posting a picture of Christian reading to his boys a few years ago. (it looks like four years ago! Riley on the right, has turned out to be our voracious reader.) It is always heartening to see your children not only turn out to be good adults, but good parents as well.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” (Psalm 68:5)
As I watched the Superbowl and the famous commercials, I was pleased to see at least three different ones that promoted the value of fathers. Fathers who care, fathers who are there, fathers who teach and take action.
If there is a glaring need in our society today, amidst the decline of the nuclear family, it is the lack of fathers. Fathers that will be true parents. My friend Doyle Robinson in his ministry to homeless youth has adopted the mission of “restoring the heart of the ‘Father’ to a fatherless generation.” With the growing awareness of the crime of “sex trafficking” much of the root issues that create vulnerability relates to an absence of fathers, or fathers who abused instead of nurtured.
Fathers don’t need to be perfect, but they need to be present and available. That in and of itself can be a challenge with the demands of our society and economics and “making our mark.” Fathers need to be involved. It seems like we hear more about “helicopter mothers” than “helicopter fathers” (not that any imbalance is good). One of the most interesting verses of the Bible is about King David and his role as a father. “….his [Adonijah’s] father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?” (1 Kings 1:6)
Father’s need to be affirming. I was attending a funeral for a fellow pastor a couple of weeks ago. As his daughter shared about her college days, she told of how her father would remind her, “I love, I believe you in, you can do this!” When I reflect on my fathering, I recall too many missed opportunities.
However, the message of hope for father’s who are not in heaven (perfect) there is a Father in heaven (who is perfect) and not like earthly fathers. The Lord can help fathers in their responsibilities and He can bring healing for wounds from failed fathers. We can know love, forgiveness and freedom. And as we experience that it enables us to be to others what our heavenly father is to us.