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To the Editor:
“Father Knows Best” was an American sitcom popular on TV from 1954 to 1960. It depicted a wise family man and his common-sense wife raising children who respected and honored them. Over the last 30 years TV, movies and cartoons for children have devalued fathers and masculinity. They usually only show fathers as fools and knuckleheads and not as wise heads of the home. The lack of fathers and this devaluation of fatherhood and masculinity has helped create more evil men and enablers of evil men than ever before. Fatherless boys are far more likely to grow up and commit violent crime, and mistreat women.
The National Center for Fathering (www.fathers.com) reports there’s a crisis because over 20 million children in America are negatively affected by their father’s absence. The percentage of American children living without their biological father has tripled since 1960. Our culture has changed, the needs of children haven’t.
Studies show the negative impact of not having a father. Children who grow up without a dad are more depressed. Of youth who commit suicide 63 percent had no father. Of high school dropouts and pregnant teenagers 71 percent had no father. Of youth with behavior problems and youth in prison 85 percent had no father. Of homeless and runaway children 90 percent had no father. Children growing up with a father have a much better likelihood of success as well-adjusted, healthy productive adults.
In 2008 President Obama said, “Children who grow up without a father are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit crime, nine times more likely to drop out of school and 20 times more likely to end up in prison.” Dr. Alvin Poussaint, a psychiatrist with Harvard Medical School, confirmed these statistics. Dr. Poussaint said, “The absence of fathers corresponds with a host of social ills, including dropping out of school and serving time in jail.” The Minnesota Psychological Association reported, “In a study of female inmates more than half came from a father-absent home.” Fathers matter and those without a good father by the ripple effect every future configuration for them is negatively altered forever.
If you have a father honor him as the Bible says. If you have a Christian father thank God you are blessed. “A father knows best when he knows Jesus.” A Christian father is a giver, provider, defender and leader and does all the things needed so the family can thrive. Those without a father often have an identity problem and not know who they are. Only Jesus can fill this hole in their life and show them who they are. If you have no father or an abusive father don’t write yourself off. Only Jesus is the author and finisher. Put your trust in Jesus, and Jesus will help you forgive your father and heal your broken heart and get past your past. Fathers matter but knowing Jesus matters most. Those who love Jesus and have faith in Jesus are a new creation and by the ripple effect every future configuration for them is positively altered forever!

D.D. Nave
Elizabethton