Where's Daddy?: The Importance of a Father in a Child's Life

     America has been on a slow, but steady, moral decline that has destroyed families across the country.  One of the most painful decision a married couple can make is to decide to get divorced.  Although there is definitely pain felt by the adults, the pain and damage to the children is far greater and can last a lifetime.  For people that may be considering getting a divorce, or for children who have suffered through one, this article will shed light on some of the statistics children who grow up without father's face.  Also, it will show that there is hope if you find yourself with your father no longer present.

     When a young boy grows up without the authority that comes with a father figure he is twice as likely to go to prison.  To those who had a father, you know how it felt to hug your dad and the power you felt in his embrace.  That strength naturally translated in to a healthy fear when it came to dicipline.  When a young man never has that powerful presence in his life there is an inherent lack of fear of consequences, which leads to unlawful acts.

     One of the saddest statistics pretaining to fatherless children is the suicide rate.  63% of all suicides come from children suffering from this epidemic.  When a child has one parent missing there is a natural tendency for them to feel abandoned and unwanted.  Related closely to suicide is behavioral disorders, and 85% of all children with these disorders have no father in the home.  A balanced home with father and mother give a child a true sense of who they are as a person.  They see how two adults interact and are able to learn how to behave socially in a more effective way.

     Education, one of the most important areas of a young child's life, is one of the hardest hit areas in this discussion.  71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes, and this derives from the parents not being able to supervise their child's homework, which also leads to lower expectations on the part of the parent.

     There are several other troubling stats when it comes to the subject at hand, but the few stated are a clear picture of the problem we face as a society.  To the parents out there who are considering ending their marriage please look at your child and see that they are worth making the effort to work things out.  If you need to go to counseling, then really try what they suggest.  If there has been marital unfaithfulness, spend time in prayer and ask Jesus for the strength to forgive your partner.  The bottom line is that there is nothing on this earth more important than to give our children the best opportunities in this life.

     To those children who are facing life without a father, I would like to encourage you to let Jesus be your father.  Seek Him in prayer and know that He loves you so much and wants to embrace you as a father would.  Find yourself an older male figure who you respect and learn from them.  You've read the statistics and now you know that you don't have to become one of them!  Have courage not to be a victim in this life and to know that God works out all things for your good.

     Lastly, to the father's who are still at home.  It's time for us to stand up and be the men that God wants us to be.  We must be willing to sacrifice anything for our wife and children!  We were given the awesome responsibility to provide for and protect these precious gifts from God.  So next time your child asks for you to go outside and play, or your wife asks you to sit down and watch a movie with her, take a second to think about how much it would mean to them and put your own desires aside.  I hope this article blesses any who read it and have a wonderful 2013.

Jeffrey Brandon Lee