We are currently experiencing what may be the most fatherless generation in history, which is a crisis of major significance and consequence. Almost 40% of children in America are growing up without their fathers, and this number increases every year.
According to the CDC, children from fatherless homes make up 90% of homeless and runaway children, 71% of high school dropouts, and 63% of youth suicides.
Divorce and out-of-wedlock births are the leading contributors to fatherlessness, with more than 40% of all babies born out of wedlock. In the past 60 years, the percentage of children growing up with just their mothers has tripled to 25%.
Research has shown that children with involved fathers have stronger cognitive and motor skills, improved physical and mental health, better problem-solving abilities, higher confidence, curiosity, and empathy, and are less likely to engage in drug use or criminal activity.
All of the available data points to the fact that children need their fathers. I would propose there is also a correlation between the rise of fatherlessness and an increase in young people struggling significantly their identity. Guess why that is? Fathers impart identity into their children. And if you don’t know who you are, you are going to be easily influenced by people and ideas that do not have your best interests at heart. In search of who you are, you will continually seek validation and affirmation from all the wrong people and places. This also results in the lack of purpose. If you don’t know who you are, how would you know what your purpose is? There is a signifiant population of young people today who struggle with identity and purpose. Fathers are needed to impart these things into young boys and girls.
This is not limited to physically absent fathers; emotionally absent and present but uninvolved fathers also contribute to this problem. Children need active and engaged fathers.
The rise of fatherless homes and the rise in all the related symptoms and consequences point to the conclusion that we live in a society with a large population of men who refuse to grow up and lack the courage to step up to the plate of responsibility when the game of life is on the line. They choose lives of selfish ambition rather than answering the call of fatherhood – a call of service and sacrifice. Your voice is the most important and influential one in your home. Fathers matter.