
Dr. Michelle Watson wrote in Kidzmatter magazine: “God says dads matter: The infamous verse that underscores the value God places on fathers is found in Malachi 4:6 where he says that if the hearts of the fathers don’t turn toward their children, and vice versa, He will come and strike the land with a curse. She shared more statistics:
***One out of three kids in America live in homes without a biological father.
***More than 24 million children lack the physical presence of a father in their homes.
***According to 72% of the U.S. population, fatherlessness is considered THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FAMILY OR SOCIAL PROBLEM FACING AMERICA!
* Here’s some of the impacts on children concerning their dads:
* Kids who feel connected to their dads are stronger, healthier, and happier.
* What a dad believes matters more to kids than outside influences.
* If a dad choose Jesus, his family will too.
* Kids internalize their dad’s view of them.
* Dads provide a template by which kids navigate all other relationships.
* When a daughter feels her dad’s love, she doesn’t need to look for love in all the wrong places.
* When a son feels his dad’s respect, he thrives in knowing he’s strong and competent.
* Time with dad brings balance to a child’s life.
* Dads provide a template for relating to God as a Father.
So find a dad today and tell him how much he matters to his kids. And a note to Christian men that you can step in as a spiritual father and make a significant difference in a young boy or man’s life who does not have the presence of a father in his home. Show them what it means to be a healthy male who serves God without apology.
If you know a dad who wants to be more involved in his children’s lives, but for whatever reason has been restricted, pray with him and encourage him, that God will make a way where there is no way.
Moms who are parenting alone—don’t think for one minute all is hopeless. Remember Timothy in the Bible! He had a Greek (pagan) father, but the spiritual influence and leadership came from his mother and grandmother! Plus God sent him a spiritual father in the form of Paul the Apostle when he was still a very young man. Pray into that and ask God to show you how to raise your children for Christ!
It could be argued, that among other significant issues, fatherlessness is a big part of the turmoil in our land. But we know prayer changes things, circumstances, and the hearts of mankind.
So now we know. Let’s reverse the curse.
I have some great resources on my website for parents. Please check them out. http://buff.ly/2fCh103
(Photo by Resham Kumar Sunuwar)