Happy Father’s Day! Fathers and Fatherless
My blog today is dedicated to all the wonderful fathers, father figures, and male mentors who have touched the lives of your own kids and others you’ve mentored and coached. We appreciate you! And, for the rest of us, let’s be sure to celebrate our fathers in words and actions. So, I’m taking my own advice and celebrating all the fathers today!
Father’s Day brings precious memories and so much gratitude — for my own sweet daddy, my dear father-in-law, and my precious husband who are celebrating this Father’s Day with “Our Father Who Art in Heaven”! Okay – they’ve certainly one-upped us on a grand celebration with the second-to-none Father. And Happy Father’s Day to my two incredible sons: Ryan Wuerch & Larry Wallace, amazing, devoted fathers who lead their families by God’s example to them. Thanks, and well-done, guys, for blessing me with my seven beautiful grandchildren and thank you for all the men and boys you coach and mentor!
And, as celebratory this day is for those amazing fathers who love and adore their families and model what a good father is, my heart goes out to the fatherless today. Over the last several weeks, I’ve heard, repeatedly, that this is a “fatherless” generation which lies at the root of the problems in our society. It is a story of shame, loneliness and rejection. A story that desperately needs to be heard. Fatherlessness is both a personal tragedy and a growing epidemic, and is the engine driving gangs, riots, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse and suicide. But, there is a solution if only those of us in faith communities would rewrite this tragic story.
The “He’s a Good, Good Father” song provides answers that only a good Father can provide. When my daddy became so ill when I was eight years old until he passed on when I was fifteen, it was my good, good Heavenly Father who sustained me. When my precious husband passed on, it was the love of my Heavenly Father where I found solace, comfort and peace. Oh, that this fatherless generation could find their true identity in the love of our Heavenly Father. We’re finding out that He’s loving and caring and so close that we can be embraced by Him — any time, anywhere.
As the song goes, we’re finding out He’s perfect in all of His ways…to us. He loved us before we loved Him. He has always been this way. This Father sent Jesus because He wants all of us to know that He loves us all exactly like He loves His Son. Jesus’ desire was that every person knows love by the love He shared among His followers. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” (John 13:35). We are wising up to those “Love one another” words.
Maybe today, you don’t even know your earthly father, or if you do, he may not have been very present in your life. Maybe, like me, your dad was with you for just a short period of time. Like mine, your dad wasn’t there to walk you down the aisle on your wedding day. Maybe your dad is still here and your relationship is and always has been strained.
Dads, in my opinion, you are the most powerful force in the lives of your children. Thank you for not being passive. Thank you for understanding and taking responsibility for your power. Thank you for being living examples of our Heavenly Father’s love. Thank you for having real-life conversations with your boys and having date nights with your girls. Thank you for showing them and the fatherless children what respect, honor, and integrity look like. I pray God leads our strong, loving and caring men to reach out in love to those who need to see Father God in the flesh and come to know the love of their good, good Father.
“He is a father to the fatherless.” Psalm 68:5
Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father.” ― Lydia Maria Child