The numbers are rising by 20,000 a year. 3 million children in Britain are growing up without a father at home. In some communities, well over 50% of the households are headed by lone parents.
Of course, a good number of the lone parents in question are loving, hard-working and in many ways being outstanding role-models for their children. But growing up in a Dad-free zone has its consequences. Father-less childhoods all too often lead to social deprivation, discipline-issues or emotional struggles.
Then there are the present but distant fathers. You may have seen the story on Facebook of a 5 year old boy who asked his Dad how much he earned. $50 an hour came the answer. After amassing the necessary $50, he offered to pay his father for an hour of his time. Just for once he wanted to have dinner with his Daddy. No social deprivation in that scenario but a boy with a broken heart - a child who acutely felt the absence of his Dad.
Maybe you know someone in one of these scenarios. Maybe you're in one yourself.
There are no quick fixes to such pain. Broken families cannot be glued back together. Working hours often can't be rearranged overnight. But neither is the church of Christ impotent in the face of this growing and worrying trend.
So, this week, why not make a particular effort to encourage a man you know to treasure his God-given gift of a child even more biblically? Or pray for the Dads down your street? For the good of the children ... for the glory of God.
