The absence of fathers in homes has a powerful and damaging impact, while the active involvement of fathers with their children is positively related to good outcomes for kids that helps them throughout life. We need fathers who are physically present in the home, emotionally involved with their children, and spiritually strong in the Christian faith. We need godly fathers in this country now more than ever.
Through the efforts of organized liberal forces, parents face a tremendous challenge in raising their children in this powerful and growing atmosphere of wickedness. The invasion into our homes by misinformed government powers or the immoral values of culture warriors puts us in a position where we cannot afford to ignore what is happening. Our homes are under attack. In fact, the fundamental idea of a man and a woman marrying and having children is scorned by far too many in this culture. Many evil and insidious dangers face our kids and grandkids. They deserve parents, especially dads, who will stand in the truth and model before their kids character, truth and devotion. They need protectors, not compromisers!
We cannot be with our children 24 hours a day, but we can pray for them around the clock and we can be involved in their lives virtually every day. James 5:16 reminds us that “the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” It has been my practice to pray for my children every day, then my sons-in-law, and I have now added my four grandchildren to my petitions before God’s throne. Dads and granddads can have a huge impact in the lives of their kids and grandkids through prayer, which is an immeasurable asset in their development.
Father’s Day can be a time to pause and realize the importance of fathers. It can be a time to give thanks to God for good dads and a special opportunity to honor them with our lives — both those fathers those who are still with us, and those who are deceased.
While the observance of Father’s Day is a holiday recognized in the United States every third Sunday in June, it is not a federal holiday. But it is a time to celebrate the men who fathered us, especially those who sacrificed for us and took the time to teach, lead and correct us. I realize some children do not have dads, and others have dads who are abusive or absent. These children need our prayers and attention, and, as God leads us, our intervention. One dad said he could not be a father to children outside his family, but he could be an involved father figure in their lives.
For a child, love is spelled T-I-M-E. One dad made a lasting difference in his son’s life by promising his child one hour a day to do whatever he wanted with his dad. Looking back on the time spent he with his dad, the grown son said, “It is the greatest gift I ever had in my life.”
This Father’s Day, remember your dad. If he is alive, spend time with him either through a phone call, social media, or, best of all, in person. There are plenty of dads who abandon their posts while chasing their dream, a hobby, or money. But if your dad, imperfect as we all are, has demonstrated to you over the years his love for you, remember him with respect and honor his name.
It has been observed that being a father is too often a title without a commitment to fathering. When this happens, men devalue their children and imprint them with various feelings of unworthiness, guilt, pain and anger. Those scars can last a lifetime.
Our families in America are hurting, and the very structure of the family is being attacked and severely damaged. We need godly fathers who stay the course and provide examples of love, integrity, and commitment to their children.
If you have a good father, touch his life in a special way on Father’s Day. Your time is likely more valuable to him than any material gift. If you feel the need to show your love with some type of tangible gift, avoid obsessing about the monetary value of a material present. As one small boy said, “Father’s Day is like Mother’s Day, only you don’t spend as much.”
To all of you dads and granddads who are still involved in the lives of your kids and grandkids, have a happy and blessed Father’s Day. May your tribe increase!