When I think of my father I think of the long hours he worked at two and sometimes three jobs. Being an immigrant in Canada and taking care of his family were very demanding. But I also think of the times we spent picnicking as a family, trips to the zoo, the Quebec City winter carnival, road trips, and camping in New York state.

As I reflect on my own kids growing up I feel a tremendous satisfaction in being a father to them. I haven’t been perfect by any means, particularly when it comes to doing things that I don’t especially enjoy, but we have had many great times together. What an incredible experience to have little children look up to you, trust you, and learn much of life from your own life experiences. What a blessing it is when I see other fathers taking time to interact with their children, playing with them at a picnic, rolling around “wrestling” in the living room (often at the chagrin of their mother), or enjoying the outdoors together. I have learned that children are quick to overlook your faults when they know you love them, which, in the mind of a child, is equated with spending time with them and doing things together. Long gone are the days when fathers were expected to be the “bread winner” while the mother was the only one who developed a relationship with the kids.

Unfortunately there has been a movement that promoted the idea that children don’t need fathers. From the entertainment industry that portrays fathers as buffoons to feminists who flat out reject the necessity of fathers, fatherhood has taken a beating.

The truth is that there are fathers who have really blown it. Let’s face it, some fathers have not been much of a father, (maybe because they didn’t have a father themselves?) and in some homes have made life worse by their presence. But to reject the importance of fathers because a small minority of people managed without a father in the house is like finding a 80 year old smoker and saying that smoking is fine because smoking doesn’t seem to have hurt the 80 year old. We know that smoking kills. Maybe not always, but almost always. And certainly, there will be a few homes in which a father is more harm than good, but by and large children do much better with fathers than without. Statistics confirm it again and again. The percentage of children who are content, productive, and responsible citizens is much higher in two parent families than in homes without a father. When it comes to raising children, there is no substitute for a mother and a father (which is all the more reason we need to stand by and support the single parents in our community).

If you are a father, take pride in raising the next generation of godly men and women. God has given you an incredible and awesome responsibility. Don’t listen to the voices that say you have no part in the lives of children. Enjoy your children. Be involved. Do things together. Teach them the things of God. Set boundaries. Lead by example. Treat their mother with love and respect. And you will be blessed.

God’s Word is true.  Psalm 127:3,5 says it well: “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him… Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.”

For additional resources on fatherhood, check out the Focus on the Family web site at Fatherhood Resources or for general family information, go to the Focus on the Family Main Web Page. They will provide you with much encouragement, resources, articles, research and support.

Pastor Norman

Dogs are great. I loved my dog. He came to us as a little puppy when my youngest was just 3 years old. There was much excitement in our house the day Frisky came home. She became a great part of our family. Most of our kids lives have been lived sharing the living room with our dog. We had her for almost 15 years. She was a great dog.

On the news recently I heard no less than three different reports about animals; a dog, some ducks, and a koala bear. The one closest to home was Trevor the dog. Trevor had a rough background, was given a new home, but things didn’t work out and was taken back to the shelter and slated to be euthanized.

The “news” part of the story was the fact that people were upset that this dog was going to be put down and that efforts were under way to save the dog. It seems the city was taken to court and the dog has been given a reprieve until an expert can come up and assess whether the dog is really dangerous or not. Then the dogs fate will be determined.

Then there was the story about the fellows shooting ducks (not in the Yukon). Someone posted a YouTube video showing these poor ducks being shot while the shooter celebrates. The “news” didn’t appear to be the illegal hunting; the news was that the otherwise happy ducks were being killed. How can people kill ducks? It was inhuman.

Finally, there was the story about the koala bears. I can’t remember what happened with these bears but apparently we needed to be informed about their plight.

Now, let me be clear, I love dogs, I enjoy seeing ducks (and I don’t mean on my dinner plate), and while I’ve never been up close to a koala bear, I have nothing against them either. They are all part of God’s creation. But it seemed strange to me that so much “news” was centered around these helpless little creatures when so many more helpless little children are not even given a chance to live.

I don’t have all the answers to what to do with so many unwanted pregnancies. I can not imagine the challenges of a single mother raising one preschooler, never mind two or three. But I do know that the answer is not to simply do away with them as if they were no more than an overgrown wart. It seems to me that dogs are given much more protection than unborn children. Something isn’t right.

Children are being aborted by the hundreds every day, approximately 100,000 annually in Canada alone. But the headlines don’t speak about it. Instead the headlines speak about dogs, ducks, and bears (and yesterdays news that a mouse was found chewing $20 bills inside an ATM machine in Oregon).

This is what our society has turned into; a society that is fragmented (little or no family support) and highly self-centered (I do what feels good for me). In that setting, it’s no wonder we see the lives of unborn children taken. What can we do? We can “do” three things.

First, we can pray. Pray for the generation that feels they can do whatever they want without worrying about consequences (including premarital sex). Pray for the moms and moms-to-be that are considering abortion. Pray for the fathers to take responsibility.

Second, we can support pregnant women. Help them so they don’t feel they need to go through this alone, or point them to agencies/people that are eager to adopt a child.

Third, we can educate. Many people don’t realize just how well formed an unborn child is extremely early in the pregnancy. The pregnancy is not just a “blob” of tissue. There are tiny feet and tiny hands that will one day clasp a finger.

Go ahead and love your dog. But let’s not forget the most vulnerable and pinnacle of God’s creation - the children of God.

Pastor Norman