No One is Fatherless

With Father’s Day approaching, I have been thinking a lot about dads. I was raised by a wonderful, giving, kind, godly man; a man who adopted me when he married Mom.

I’m thankful for his decision to adopt my brother and me every day. God called him to be our father. He just knew it was his role, regardless of how scary it may have been to take on two children.

When I think of my dad, the words sacrifice, loyalty, and love come to mind. He embodies hard work, a strong sense of discipline; and he is the smartest man I know. He also has an incredible talent at building and fixing anything. The best part about him is his heart for Christ.

I never doubted my father’s faith when I was child. To this day, he serves the Lord with all of his heart; and he raised us in that way. He taught us about God as children not only with biblical teachings, but also in the way he lived. He has always been a man of his word; I never remember feeling let down by him.

My father taught my brothers and me to have a heart for humanity. He is the type of person who will stop what he is doing to help anyone in need. And if I had to describe my father in one word, it would be “strong”. I always remember thinking he was invincible. Dad has a determined heart. Even when life was tough, he worked right on through it.

Of course, as I became older, I realized that he is not invincible. Yet, instead of feeling let down by this fact, it made me realize he is stronger than I had even thought as a child.

The qualities that my own father has are ones all men should strive for when raising a family. Sadly, some families do not have the opportunity to have a male role model in their home. The “American Family”, especially now, is a vague description.

Children need role models. They need to have someone they can count on. Feeling safety and secure is very to a young child.

So, what can you do if your own child does not have a father in the home? Can you ever fill that role yourself?

Yes. You will not be able to provide everything that a father could, just as a father could not provide everything a mother could, but even still you can be a dual role model.

My aunt raised three children on her own and she was a good Christian role model. For the roles, she could not fulfill she relied on the people God placed in her life for help.

If you feel your child is lacking a male role model that he or she can learn from, contact your local government official and see if there are programs local to you that sponsor children with mentors.

Equally as helpful and more likely to provide a Christian mentor, is your own church, the youth pastor, or a godly man you trust. If you do not find a person in your own church, look for mentoring programs at established churches nearby. (My cousin was in a church version of Boy Scouts where children who did not have a father in the household did a lot of fun activities together.)

Enlist a family member or friend. My own father was a mentor to many of my cousins who did not have a dad close by. To this day, they call him for advice.

If you are a single parent, do not fret over your child missing out on male role model. Living your life the way that God instructs you will give you the guidance and wisdom that you need to do the very best you can. He will never abandon you or leave you to figure things out on your own. His mercy endures; have faith that He will open doors for you and your children. Always remember God is our Father, He is the essence of what sacrifice and love are all about.

Teaching your children about relying on God and knowing that He will be the rock in their lives is so important. This goes for children who have fathers in the home or close by as well. But it is essential for each of us to know that we are never fatherless.

I John 3:1 says: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…” (King James Version)

No one is ever without a Father’s love. In your loneliest moments, you always have the Father’s love and guidance. He teaches us about discipline, respect, and life lessons that a father would impart to their child.

What are some of the fondest memories of your father or a male role model in your life?