NEWS

Some Father’s Day Thoughts

Social custom has it that each year we have one day to celebrate our fathers. Is it meaningful and genuine? For many it is. Although we can express our appreciation for our fathers at any time, in the busyness of modern life it is helpful to have a specific occasion on which to celebrate and reflect on the love we have received from our fathers. However, it would be insensitive and naive to think that the remembrance of fathers would conjure up feelings of good will, happiness, fond memories or appreciation for everyone. Many have grown up enduring abusive, loveless, unfaithful, oppressive and absentee fatherhood. To them, Father’s Day opens past wounds, and is anything but happy.

Last year’s Australian census showed that about 16% of Australian families had single parents, and 85% of those were fatherless.  According to US data, fatherlessness rendered children:

● 20 times more likely to be incarcerated,

● 4 times more likely to be raised in poverty,

● 9 times more likely to drop out of school, and

● much more prone to a long list of social problems  

On the other hand, some data show that Christian fathers are much more likely than mothers to influence children to be churched. All these observations point to the importance of good fatherhood to the wellbeing of families and the next generation.  

Biblical teaching is explicit about the imperative of godly fatherhood. While literal fatherlessness in the Christian community may be significantly lower than society as a whole, we need to be mindful of “effective fatherlessness”, i.e. frequent physical absence of fathers due to business or hobbies, and/or mental, emotional & spiritual absence due to dissociation of fathers from their families.  The latter types may be less glaring in the public eye, but are no less damaging to families. As a church community, we need to have brothers constantly reminding and encouraging one another to pursue godly fatherhood, and to learn practical skills of expressing love towards the children in the Australian cultural context.

On this Father’s Day, let us all celebrate the loving fatherhood of our Heavenly Father.

Let those who are blessed with kind earthly fathers give thanks to the Lord and honour their fathers.

Let those who have painful experiences of their earthly fathers seek the Lord’s strength to forgive, and healing to remove any associated negativity from their lives, so that they may become godly fathers/mothers to their children, and be able to receive the love and appreciation of their children.

Let estranged fathers and children be empowered by the Lord to humble themselves to make the first step towards reconciliation, regardless who was at greater fault, making room in their hearts for understanding how differences in age, cultures and personalities may have resulted in the rifts but also be open to acknowledging their own failings. Let there be hope for a happy Father’s Day soon.

Let those who have been nurtured spiritually acknowledge the spiritual fathers who have mentored them.

May all of us who are fathers give priority to grow in godly fatherhood, modeling on our perfect Heavenly Father, because it affects not only our existing families and our enjoyment of them, but likely also that of the next generation as well.

Happy Father’s Day!

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