Still not convinced that fathers play an important role in the home? Check out the stats Donald Miller placed in his book, "To Own a Dragon".
85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes - 20 times the average. (Center for Disease Control)
80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes - 14 times the average. (Justice & Behavior, Vol. 14 p.403-26)
71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes - 9 times the average. (National Principals Association Report)
75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes - 10 times the average. (Rainbows for All God's Children)
70% of youths in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes - 9 times the average. (U.S. Dept. of Justice, Sept. 1988)
85% of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes - 20 times the average. (Fulton, CO. Georgia, Texas Dept. of Correction)
Men we need to step up! Please add your thoughts.
2 comments:
Yikes, those are scary stats. I honestly don't doubt it. Sad part is that there isn't an organization/government that can do anything. it's not illegal to suck/disappear as a father. It's up to the body of Christ to make it clear how important fatherhood is and support fathers at every turn.
I think that it is important to teach these fatherless children the importance of acting as individuals, and not as a product of unfortunate circumstance. I, myself, come from a fatherless home. However, I don't blame my poor decision-making on his not being around. I take full responsibility for my actions, my reactions, and my interactions. I don't like to believe that my father can be blamed for the way that I have chosen to live. It gives him too much power over me, and too many ways for me to get out of taking the responsibility and blame.
I hope that makes sense.
It's not that I think it wouldn't have mattered if he stayed or left... It's that I don't want to take the coward's way by blaming others for my own misdeeds.
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