Fathers and Sons

Every boy needs his father. That's a given. How many times have we heard the stories about how a male creates a child and leaves or never bothers to acknowledge that child to begin with. Sadly this is a commonality in our society. There are little boys and young men across the globe who suffer daily because they feel hurt and rejected by the person who was partially responsible for bringing them into this world and abandoning them or not caring enough to give them what they need and what they deserve...the chance to learn how to become a man with guidance and wisdom and a positive role model to pattern themselves after.

Now I am not a man but I do understand to a certain extent the need for a father to be in a boy's life. Many boys tend to hold in fear, hurt and pain. When they do this it can transform into anger and in turn the need to release that anger results in them feeling the need to act out. An angry boy usually is a boy who is really hurting inside. Many times a boy with behavioral issues whose father is absent in their lives is a boy who doesn't know how to channel or express their feelings. No matter how much he is encouraged to do well or told that he is loved by other family members, there may always be that void that only his biological father can fill and he may always carry that question of "Why doesn't my father love me?"

With teenagers having babies it  makes it more difficult to expect positive role models to emerge out of the next generations. Without yet having the experience of what it truly means to be a man themselves, teenage fathers are lost when it comes to parenting with wisdom from experience. How can anyone lead another to a place they have not yet found themselves? That is not to say that all young fathers are incapable of effectively fathering their child. However far too many have given up, walked away, disregarded their responsibility or just don't know how to be a father.

I believe we are all looking for men who are fathers to gain a new mindset. Stop running from responsibility. Stop making excuses. Stop lying to these young boys, giving them false hope and creating disappointments that cause them to be crippled in future relationships. Above all, stop making babies  you are not willing to take care of. For those who will we need men who are willing to fill in the gaps. Good, positive, supportive step-fathers, uncles, brothers, etc. who will vow to become a mentor to a young man and teach them how to become a God-fearing, law-abiding, well-educated man. We can do it, together.