Father Loss

Yesterday we talked about soil loss, today let's talk about Father Loss or those with no dad around.  I clicked on the Google image just now and there, it was, it's Father's Day!  But one statistic says one out of three Americans have no father in their life.  That's a sad report on our country. 

A radio piece I heard yesterday was worse.  It linked 60-70% of the major problems our society faces to no dad in the picture.  Earlier in the week, the national media showed this guy who has 22 children with 14 wives and he is in and out of jail.  How are we supposed to pay for that as a society?  How are those women and children supposed to cope with no bread winner as the head of household, let alone as physical and spiritual leader?

"According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 24 million children in America -- one out of three -- live in biological father-absent homes.  Consequently, there is a "father factor" in nearly all of the social issues facing America today."

"Children in father-absent homes are almost four times more likely to be poor. In 2011, 12 percent of children in married-couple families were living in poverty, compared to 44 percent of children in mother-only families.  Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Children’s Living Arrangements and Characteristics: March 2011, Table C8. Washington D.C.: 2011.

In 2008, American poverty rates were 13.2% for the whole population and 19% for children, compared to 28.7% for female-headed households.  Source: Edin, K. & Kissane R. J. (2010). Poverty and the American family: a decade in review. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72, 460-479."

I know my dad wanted a son and I did my darndest to be a good one.  Sometimes I failed but overall it worked out pretty well.  I know LuAnn's dad wanted a daughter and her brothers still call her "Suz" because their dad did.

What if the other party didn't really want the responibility of that child?  Wonder if the child wasn't wanted at all?  Do they run around in this life with no purpose in life?  Look at all many million of unwanted pregnancies has been terminated over the ages?  Or is it billions of people?

If you have a dad that cares about you today, I say thank the Lord.  I hope you plan something nice for your dad even if it is going to the cemetery where he is buried and just say thank you dad, I love you.  That's the best I can do this week if not today.

Happy Father's day to you dads.  I personally know there are a bunch of good ones who read this page.

If you can't do that, I say a little prayer today for you and your dad.

Saint Joseph was a pretty good dad even though he wasn't the father of his son.

Ed Winkle