THE COMMITMENT OF A FATHER

As a law-enforcement officer

I've seen firsthand the deep hurt

And devastation that fatherlessness

Brings in a child's life

The commitment of a father

Our prisons are full of men and women

Who lived recklessly after being abandoned

By their fathers, wounded by the men

Who should have loved them the most.

Many now follow the same pattern

Of irresponsibility that their fathers did

While so many mothers have sacrificed

To help their children survive, they were never

Intended to carry the weight alone

We thank God for them

But research is proving that a child

Also desperately needs a daddy

There's no way around this fact

The commitment of a father

As you know, earlier this year, my family endured

The tragic loss of our 9-year-old daughter, Emily

Her death forced me to realize that not only had

I not taken advantage of the priceless time I had with her

But that I did not truly understand how crucial

My role was as a father to her and our son, Dylan

Since her passing, I've asked God to show me

Through His Word how to be the father that I need to be

I now believe that God desires for every father

To courageously step up and do whatever it takes

To be involved in the lives of his children

But more than just being there or providing for them,

He’s to walk with them through their lives and be a visual

Representation of the character of God, their father in heaven

A father should love his children and seek to win their hearts

He should protect them, discipline them and teach them about God

He should model how to walk with integrity

And treat others with respect and should call out

His children to become responsible men and women

Who live their lives for what matters in eternity

Some men will hear this and mock it or ignore it.

But I tell you that as a father, you are accountable to God

For the position of influence He has given you.

You can't fall asleep at the wheel only to wake up one day

And realize that your job or your hobbies have no eternal value

But the souls of your children do.

Some men will hear this and agree with it

But have no resolve to live it out.

Instead, they will live for themselves

And waste the opportunity to leave a

Godly legacy for the next generation

But there are some men who, regardless of the mistakes

We’ve made in the past, regardless of what our fathers

Did not do for us, will give the strength of our arms and the rest

Of our days to loving God with all that we are and to teach our children

To do the same, and, whenever possible, to love and mentor others

Who have no father in their lives but

Who desperately need help and direction

We are inviting any man whose heart

Is willing and courageous to join us in this resolution

In my home, the decision has already been made

You don't have to ask who will guide my family,

Because by God's grace, I will

You don't have to ask who will

Teach my son to follow Christ, because I will

Who will accept the responsibility

Of providing and protecting my family? I will

Who will ask God to break the chain of destructive

Patterns in my family's history? I will

Who will pray for and bless my children to boldly pursue

Whatever God calls them to do? I am their father. I will.

I accept this responsibility, and it is my privilege

To embrace it. I want the favor of God

And His blessing on my home.

Any good man does.

So where are you, men of courage?

Where are you, fathers who fear the Lord?

It's time to rise up and answer the call

That God has given to you and to say,

"I will. I will. I will.