My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.” ― Jim Valvano
Harry Harrison Jr., author of “Life Lessons on Raising a Boy”, states that turning a boy into a man is a man’s job. Since the beginning of time, it’s been up to a father to make his son responsible, kind, courageous and honorable.
A young boy doesn’t come with instructions. He just comes with boundless love and an adventurous spirit. But the journey to manhood begins very early …. the first time he looks at his dad and thinks, “I want to be like him”.
The five keys on fathering begin:
Be around.
Be his father, not his friend. If you don’t know the difference, imagine his confusion when you must discipline him.
Be a great husband. Show his mom respect at all times.
Be home for dinner.
Be his hero.
“Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.” — Wade Boggs
Fatherlessness is an epidemic in our country, and elsewhere in the world. Today, over 43% of youth 18 years old and younger will go to bed without their biological father in their home ….. in 1960, this level of fatherlessness was 6.9%. below are some of the most impactful problems resulting from fatherlessness ….
63% of Youth Suicides
71% of Teenage Pregnancies and High School Dropouts
85% of Adults in Prison
90% of Youth Incarcerated
90% of Homeless and Runaway Children (where young girls are lured into sex trafficking)
Today, most young boys are being raised by their mother because, for various reasons, the husband/father is out of the picture.
According to Man in the Mirror, men in the church aren’t doing any better than men outside of the church because churches are not discipling men to be followers of Jesus Christ. Our churches are not effectively helping men understand what it takes to be a Godly Son, Godly husband, a Godly father, and a Godly servant.
Let us remember … boys will turn out much like their dads unless there is an intervention of Christ and the Father!
Men, please join me, and many other concerned men, in asking God to pour out His guidance to church leaders across America to fight for their men to Love the Lord God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength and to love their neighbor as they love themselves; to wage war against fatherlessness, which is destroying our families as well as future generations, and to launch a transformational ministry men …. transforming men into the image of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
In Christ,
Bill