I remember vaguely a story about how someone organized a drive to provide Mother’s Day cards to men in a local prison. It was a huge success: most of the incarcerated men showed up to claim a card and write something to their mothers. It went so well, that the group decided to do a similar promotion for Father’s Day. The day came for distributing the cards and NOT ONE PRISONER showed up to claim one.

It seems that fathers are important, and the lack of good fathers can have disastrous results.

Dr. Daniel Huerta, Vice President of Parenting and Youth for Focus on the Family, has posted a nice piece on the Importance of Fathers. Here’s part of it:

Here are a few ways that God designed dads to have a unique influence on their families: 

• A father’s strength can be powerful
• A dad’s words can be fueling and inspirational
• Hugs from a dad can be deeply comforting
• A dad’s smiles can instill joy and confidence
• Time with a dad can be fun and productive
• A dad’s physicality can be challenging 
• A dad’s guidance can be life-changing and foundational
• A father’s correction can be life-saving and life-giving
• Adventures with a dad can be exciting and memorable

From Fathers Matter: The Importance of Fathers by Daniel Huerta

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6.4, ESV)