Hey there fabulous readers! Our sincere prayer is that God blesses you tremendously, uplift your spirits and hearken your hearts to HIM!
I read this article in the Washington Post newspaper by Patrick Welsh today, and just had to write about it. It was an article about African-American children, especially males, not having their fathers there to support them as they make their way through school. I found the article to be very interesting and it touched on a very important, yet sensitive part of children growing up in single parent households. I should first mention that this is not a bash against any man, African-American or any other race, because God made him and I appreciate all that God created. This is about an article review and my own personal testimony.
Let me first say that my dad was not around initially when I was growing up and we did not reconnect until I was 21, and I turned out OK; I think. We have a fabulous relationship through the love of God now, and it has certainly made up for many lost years. I am thankful to God for restoring our relationship in a way that only He could accomplish. Personally, I think that it is critical for any child to have both parents in the household, regardless of their race. I missed having that male figure around and sought acceptance and guidance from my older brothers and other males outside of my immediate home. This is not to say that I desperately needed that acceptance, but I wanted something I did not have, and that was a full family. Now my mom and grandma did a great job of rearing my siblings and me. I thank God everyday for them, but there was something missing that they could not give me and that was my father.
Now listen, I know some parents rear their children as single parents for various reasons; I reared my two as a single parent for a while. However, when fathers can be there to help raise their children, they should be. I am not a man and I cannot speak for a man, but I can speak from someone who was once a child and longed for her father’s love and presence. Children need their fathers! This article talks about the importance of fathers being in the home to help discipline and teach their children the right way to go. The bible tells us in Proverbs 22:6 to “train up a child in the way he should go: when he is old, he will not depart from it.” I am not saying that a woman cannot train her children, but it is nice when fathers are there to help do it.
The article touches on that very importance of men being in the home to help rear children, teach them the importance of education, getting good grades, for boys to be a real man and for girls to demand respect and be treated as such. I personally thought it was a great article. Of course, it is my own personal opinion and we all have one, but check it out for yourself here and you be the judge.
Yours in Christ
The Lovable Wife
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us” Ephesians 3:20
Just how big is our God? When we think about all of the things that run through our mind on a daily basis, all of the things that we say on a daily basis and all of the things that we ask about, we are only touching on a grain of salt of how big God is! He can cater to the needs of the WHOLE world at the same time!! Why does He love us so much? Why is it that He constantly forgives us for the things we say, the things we think and the things we do? Is it because we have been phenomenal women 24/7? Is it because we are “Da” MAN to our homeboys? Is it because we helped an elderly lady with her bags? Is it because we give to charity? The bible tells us that our works will NOT get us to the sweet by and by. But God’s commitment of unconditional love, mercy and grace is what sustains us.
When we look towards the hills from whence cometh our help, we can be confident that it is God that rises us up above the danger, sadness, depression, guilt, loneliness and hurt we feel sometimes. That is exceeding! God is amazing isn’t He? He wants us to think big things and do big things, but it comes with a teeny tiny price. The price is that we must take up our bed and follow him in total submission.
WHOA God! “Do you really want me to do that?” is often the question that we ask Him. But what God is saying is that the sacrificial offering which He gave of His only begotten son, is much more that we can ever give up with following Him in total submission. He will supply what you need and He can exceed all of our expectations.
Ok now, all together, "Lord I surrender and WILL follow you!"
You Did It!!! Now keep doing it!
Have A Blessed Day!