Our hearts go out to those women and children who have suffered the loss of a husband and father.
Deceased fathers: "For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun." (Ecclesiastes Chapter 9:5, 6, *NKJV).
Dear absent live Fathers,
Where are you? Are you well? Are you working? If so, why have you forgotten the family God gave to you? God's word says, "…if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (1Timothy Chapter 5:8, *NKJV). Are you an unbeliever? You are still responsible for the family you produced! Your family is a gift given to you to love and to nurture.
Absent Fathers, your children need you and they need you to take fatherhood seriously! They have been disadvantaged because you are not present in their lives to make a positive difference. Your sons may be growing up angry and violent, and your daughters may be growing up unprotected. Is it really alright to know that your son could be adding to terrorism and other crimes because you choose to be missing from his life? Is it really alright to know that your daughter could be living a promiscuous life or is being sexually abused by someone else's son or father, because you have deleted her out of your life? How long will you continue to allow your family to live unprotected while you selfishly do your own thing?
No matter what relationship you have with your child's mother, your relationship with your child should remain intact, and should be the most important thing in your life. Feelings and hurts should be put aside. It would be in the best interest of your child if you and the mother agreed to make positive commitments so that the child is not negatively affected by the relationship, or lack thereof, between you and the mother. We know that this also means that mothers have to be careful and not bad-mouth fathers in the child's presence and vice versa. Children will see who their father is for themselves, and will judge his character without mothers having to say a single word! Also, children's self-esteem is often dealt a blow when one of the parents chooses to be absent. Your child could also grow up with a deep sense of loneliness, sadness and unreasonable feelings of guilt and ungratefulness.
If you get sick in your old age, who will take care of you? If you do not care for your children now, they may not want to care for you when you need care! It's time for you to be the man your family needs you to be. The world is an unsafe, poverty stricken place because you are missing from your family's life. The least you could do is pay child support, whether you are allowed to see your children or not, for your children are still your children, they still need food and clothes! God knows and sees where you are. All that you are doing and spending your time and money on are being documented by The-One-Who-Sees everything! You know who you are. Please absent fathers, be responsible! You'll be blessed beyond belief when you do your part. "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so." (King Solomon, Proverbs 3:27, *NKJV)
*NKJV - New King James Version Bible Translation