According to
the Pew Research Center, there were approximately 300,000 single father households
in 1960; today there are around 2.6 million. Still, this only accounts for 17%
of all custodial parents in single parent homes. If we really want to broaden
the spectrum, we can make a strong case that a “single father” is any man who
is involved or wants to be involved in his children’s lives. Case and point: in
our latest YouTube video you may notice none of the dads in
the video were ever married and none are the custodial parent. But that doesn’t
rule them out as the father, does it? Not at all! Without taking away from the
amazing men who are already parenting as a one-man team, this approach greatly
expands the mission field and our ability to relate with more dads- whether or
not he is the custodial parent.
Research
around the globe is consistent: when fathers are involved in the lives of their
children (full or part-time), those children overall perform significantly
better cognitively, emotionally, socially, and academically than those without
involved dads. As we here at A Father’s Walk have said time and time again: If we want to stop the bleeding in this
nation when it comes to crime, teen pregnancy and suicide, substance abuse,
divorce, and so on…then we MUST get to the dads! Over the years our small
group has seen men who have risen above and beyond as fathers despite
overwhelming obstacles: everything from terminal diseases to felonies; but now
are thriving as parents and spiritual leaders. There is a story of one single
dad who joined the group before he even became a father- because he wanted to
be prepared when his daughter was born! Today, that dad is just like a sponge:
soaking up every bit of information he can on how to grow as a man and as a
father. Others have voluntarily checked themselves into rehab to help overcome
addictions; continued to support their children’s relationship with their mom-
despite her leaving the family; and so on. Simply put, these single dads are
doing what is necessary for the overall benefit of their families. Oh, if only
ALL dads could rise like some of these men have!
It is with
great encouragement this Father’s Day that we can recognize and celebrate such
men. Jesus tells us in John 15:13 that “Greater love has no one than this, that
one lay down his life for his friends.” (NASB) In a nation that is still experiencing
the heartache and devastation of fatherlessness, we can rejoice and praise the
Lord for fathers who do lay down their lives for their children’s sake. Single
parenthood is still on the rise, but there is hope ahead. Organizations,
churches, neighborhoods across the nation (and even the media) are really
beginning to shine a positive light on fatherhood. The Fatherhood CoMission (of which AFW is a part of) has a new campaign
entitled “Honor Your Father”. Their website www.honoryourfathertoday.com has plenty of tremendous resources
to assist all of us to honor our own dads, honor fatherhood, and to grow as
fathers ourselves. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6:4, “Fathers, do not
provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and
instruction of the Lord”. (NASB) God has
put a very specific admonishment on dads as the spiritual leaders of their
families. Single fathers are no exception to this and our children need this
sort of godly influence like never before. This Father’s Day, we encourage you
to celebrate the men who are answering the Lord’s call to raise their children
in Christ. Even if that isn’t immediately evident in the life of a single dad
you may know, then now is a great opportunity to introduce the saving grace of
Jesus into his life. Remember, look for the potential, not the flaws. When we
begin to view single fathers as the priceless investments that they are, we
catch another glimpse of how God works through the most difficult of
circumstances to fulfill some of His greatest testimonies.
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