A Father's Heart

A FATHER’S HEART

“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17b).  These were the words spoken over Jesus at His baptism at the hands of John the Baptist and, in principle, represent the words every child is desirous of hearing from his/her father.  But, what does one do when a father is not present in the lives of his children to speak those words?  Let me tell you what one surrogate father did for his two (potentially) adoptive sons.  But first, let me set up the situation.

There is a mother and two sons where a father has exited the scene, by divorce or simply walking out the door, I don’t know.  In time another man steps into the scene, through marriage to the mother, with two potentially rebellious boys on his hands, ages six and four.  This man has never parented before, but is a Christian.  He asks God what to do in handling the boys—a procedure unfolded, beginning with the fact that the surrogate dad knew the boys missed their father and one of the wisest things he could do was help bridge the gap between the boys and their non-resident father.   Here’s what happened next.

God impressed it upon the surrogate father to find ways to “press” these boys into constructive thinking about the non-present dad.  This he did by helping them to select cards and gifts appropriate for birthdays, Christmases, and Father’s Day.  Year by year this continued and was supplemented by weekly telephone calls the boys were asked to make to their father.  On this latter item they were tested every week by their surrogate dad, “Have you phoned your father this week?”  If not, they were to phone as quickly as possible.

This process continued through the years so that the absentee father was reckoned to be a vital factor  in the lives of these sons; though limited to the interaction initiated by the sons.  This relationship, encouraging the sons to “seek after” their father, enabled the surrogate dad to speak into the lives of these boys, soon enough to become men, and set the stage for the boys to receive  discipline from him.

The result.  These boys grew into productive manhood, graduating from high school with training beyond, enabling them to take and hold good jobs; without the bitterness, anger and resentment so often accompanying such situations.  The sons are now in their mid-20’s.

This was a first-hand story related to me by the surrogate dad who presently has a fine, Christian testimony with the “glory of God” on him.

All over America boys and girls have been abandoned by their fathers, or, because of being born out of wedlock, have never known a father.  This circumstance is provoking such a series of social ills that, if not mightily addressed, might sink our ship of state.  This story is what one man did to turn about matters.