Daddy's Home!

That phrase is often followed by squeals of delight and the pattering of little feet as children run to be scooped up in the loving arms of their father.  However, not all children get to hear this phrase.  For some, they are left wondering who daddy is, and why daddy isn't there.  There is a troubling trend of fathers being absent in their children's lives, a trend that has long reaching consequences. Studies have shown that the absence of a father in a child's life can affect a child in a very negative way, and has further consequences on society.  A report in 2011 in Psychology Today published these sobering statistics:

• Fatherless children are at a dramatically greater risk of drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, suicide, poor educational performance, teen pregnancy, and criminality.
  
• Over half of all children living with a single mother are living in poverty.
• 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes, as are 71% of all high school dropouts, and 90% of all homeless and runaway children.  
  
• Sons from single mother families are more likely to have more aggressive behaviors and are more likely to commit violent crimes such as murder, rape, and assault.
  
• Daughters from single mother families are 111% more likely to have children as teenagers, are 164% more likely to have premature births, and are 92% more likely to dissolve their own marriages.

This trend has been made worse by society's attitude toward men and especially fathers.  The media often depicts fathers as irresponsible, lazy, stupid, and incapable of making good decisions.  Men are also depicted as aggressive, evil tyrants, or studs whose sole purpose is to bed many women.  Without a father to look up to, many children have to rely on these examples of being a man and a father.  Sons are growing up without a clear vision of what it means to be a man and father.  They turn to outside examples as their guide..  These examples are often shallow and self-serving.  Many sons grow up without a sense of responsibility, integrity, self-control, and sacrifice.  They expect to have the benefits of being an adult, with the accountability of a child.  When they get a woman pregnant, they will walk out instead of rising up and taking responsibility for the child. This report is dire, however not all is lost.  As godly fathers, we can help reverse this trend.  We must first make sure our children don't become one of these statistics by loving them with all of our heart, and teaching them the way to grow up as a godly child.  Then we can help lead other fathers to ensure their children do not become one of these statistics.  As it says in Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpens iron, as one man sharpens another.”
 
Beginning in October of 2015, the CPC has been offering the “Fatherhood Bootcamp” class to our male clients.  This class provides new or expecting fathers with the skills and knowledge they need to help take care of their child.  It also helps prepare them for when their children grow up, so they know what to expect and can lead their children down the right and righteous path.  Most importantly, it teaches fathers how to love their children, and sacrifice themselves for their children just as Jesus sacrificed himself for us.  Too many mothers have been forced to play the dual roles of mother and father.  While single mothers usually strive to do all they can for their children, parenthood was never intended to be a job performed alone.  Being a man is not easy.  Being a father is more challenging.  Being a godly father is even more challenging still.  However, the rewards are exponentially greater than the challenges.  Every father should experience the joy of scooping up their child and having little arms squeeze his neck; just as every child should be filled with joy, love, and excitement when they hear the words, “Daddy's home.”
 
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. - 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

(This blog entry was penned by one of our male volunteers.)