Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there and to all the mothers who have had to play the role of mother and father to their children.
Each of us is born with one mother and one father. Sometimes things do not work out that we have that mother and father throughout our lives. My mother and father divorced before I was 2 years old. And, it isn't easy growing up without both parents in the your home to guide you and protect you; however, we should learn to forgive and move on.
My daughters grew up without their father in our home. He knew where we were and he was free to contact my daughters anytime; but for the most part he didn't bother. He didn't pay his child support and the state of New York didn't make him pay. My daughters grew up to be kind, caring, successful members of the American society in spite of the hard times we faced. And, so when I hear about how John Paul Estorga murdered a policeman because he grew up without a father, I say bull--there were other issues in that family.
My husband and his first wife were divorced when their daughters were quite young. His ex-wife chose to move back to her hometown to raise their daughters near her family. My husband was in the military and traveled to defend our country. He never missed a child support payment. Every opportunity we had we traveled back to their hometown to visit and every time his ex-wife had to always run the visit until we finally gave up; my husband felt that when his daughters were older they would understand the circumstances and if they wanted to have him in their lives they would. And, during their college years, two of the three spent time with us, visited, and called on the phone. But, now, nothing. It's Father's Day and he hears nothing and doesn't receive a card.
I just want them to know that they may not have had their father present in their home every day; but, his heart was there. He loves them and would do anything for them. He supported them in whatever they decide to do with their lives. If you can't take time out of your day once a year to thank him for all he's done for you, I feel sorry for you when you reach the end of your life and have to answer to your heavenly father.
The Bible says, "Honor your father and your mother, that it may be well with him, and you will live long on this earth." Your days must really be numbered.
