The Power of Fathers
Two 3rd grade boys were walking out of their Sunday School class, which had been quite interesting. They were contemplating what they had heard. You see, the lesson that day was on the devil. One youngster said to the other, “what do you think of this devil business anyway?” I don’t know” replied the other, “I think it’s like Santa Claus, I think he’s your dad.”
We fathers are more influential than we think. In fact, I say fathers have a power over their children that if we only knew how much, it would scare us. We have equal power; to bless or to curse. We can do this without saying a word.
Fatherlessness is a growing crisis in America, one that undergirds many of the challenges that families are facing. When dads aren't around, young people are more likely to drop out of school, use drugs, be involved in the criminal justice system, and become young parents themselves.
My favorite thing about our past President Barack Obama, who grew up without his dad, and has said that being a father is the most important job he has. While president, he encouraged dads across the nation to make a fatherhood pledge – a pledge that we will do everything we can to be there for our children and for young people whose fathers are not around. It was a good pledge and needs to renewed today.