From the Pastors Desk - June 02, 2023
Good dads have a tough life. They are almost always the full time workers in the household. If they are repair savvy, they spend their evenings and weekends fixing things that are broken or clogged. They typically can be seen riding or pushing a lawn mower during spring and summer, and they usually are the tough loving disciplinarians for the kids. Although dad gets really upset at detentions and bad report cards, there is usually a big teddy bear inside dad that always comes out.
Good dads love their kids! They show this by playing with them in younger days even when the game that is chosen is not his favorite. As kids grow, it is usually dad that installs and adjusts bike training wheels, and frequently becomes the bike riding trainer as well. When the kids become old enough he is usually the first to begin drivers’ training, stepping aside, sitting in the passenger’s seat with a well disguised desire to death grip the door. He is a teacher, a trainer, an explainer even when the kids don’t want to hear it- they’re experts you know. Dads know how to get there and where they are going. (This mom could never get through Akron!) And dads calm moms when the kids aren’t home at exactly the right time. They reassure that the child will be home, “don’t worry”, when inwardly they are panicking as much or more than mom.
But kids always run to mom, sometimes leaving dad feeling like “chopped liver”. It isn’t until the later years in a child’s life that a child realizes how important dad is and what a great friend he is. In a good parenting relationship both mom and dad are equally important! Statistics say that in families with involved fathers children are 43% more likely to earn A’s in school and 33% less likely to repeat a grade than those without engaged dads. Engaged fathers influence development of self-esteem, risk taking and cognitive functioning. Adolescents and teens are likely to stay in school, go to college and excel in career and economic achievements. Children with engaged fathers enjoy elevated levels of physical and mental health, become better problem solvers, and are more confident and empathetic. They also show greater moral sensitivity and self-control. When a dad is present, economically stability is more likely for children and families. An absent father also means less networking connections to aid children in pursuing well-paid jobs, and children with an engaged dad are two times more likely to attend college.*
So thank you dads for everything! You are the glue that holds a family together and a much needed partner in the job of raising children. I hope you have a wonderful Father’s Day and enjoy your day doing all the things that make you happy! Celebrate Dad!!!!
Faithfully,
Lei Fahrner
*Statistics taken from www.scfathersandfamilies.com
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