Today our society does a lot to undermine the
importance of dads and men. Our culture
has been overly feminized. We don't let boys be boys. The media men often portrays men as either over violent
killing and mayhem machines, or as bumbling idiots who need to be corrected or
rescued by their wives or children. There
are women who chose to have a child without a father. Or in the attempt to redefine marriage in the
so-called “gay marriage” movement, you will have children adopted and raised by
two women. When God designed marriage
and family, He designed it to be a man and a woman who commit to the covenant
of marriage, and then, as God wills, have children. Every child needs a mom and a dad. Every child.
Let me illustrate this.
A few years ago I was speaking on family issues at Sandy Cove in Maryland. A
woman came up to me after my presentation to talk to me about her
grandson. She brought him for the kids
program hoping it would help him. He was
doing poorly in school, he was hanging with a bad crowd, got caught with pot,
and admitted to drinking. In tears she
asked me what she could do to help him.
I said, “Before I answer your question, let me ask a couple of
questions. First, where is his dad?” She
said, “He has been out of the picture for many years now. How did you know to ask that question?”
Where’s dad? Men, you
have a vital role to play in your marriage, in your family, and in our society,
and don’t let anyone diminish that. Research
in early childhood development has discovered that even dad’s rough housing
with their children is vitally important to their development. Researchers from the University of Newcastle in Australia found that between the ages of
2.5 to 5, dad’s playing with their kids and being rough and tumble with them helps their brains develop the ability
to manage emotion, thinking, and their physical body. Self-regulation, and the ability of children
to learn discipline is a key stage in their development and has important
implications for their later adult years.
Scientists have also discovered that oxytocin, the chemical that is released in a child when it is
nursing with his mother, is also released when dads play rough and tumble with
their children.
So men, dads, don't let anyone tell you that you don't matter, you do. Let me end with these words of challenge from Nehemiah, chapter 4, Don't be afraid. Remember the Lord your God who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.
Blessings,
Dr. Paul
