Father’s Day

Everywhere we look we see
Men and women
Boys and girls
Who are fatherless 

Absent, abusive, empty, selfish
Fathers
Ignoring, abdicating 
Generations 
Chasing the wind
Pursuing money, pleasure
Independence 
Leaving us to raise ourselves  
Fatherless

But in a world of fatherless 
Sons and daughters
Both young and grown
We need men 
Like you
Who see and extend 
Love 
Regardless of life’s season
To father us

Carrying burdens to provide
Learning to trust 
Their Great Provider
Increasing generosity 
Expanding their protection
To include the ones 
Who go unprotected
Leading with conviction, compassion 
Directing with vision  
Strong enough to stand
And fight 
Fire 

Filled with hope
Pursuing Community 
That includes more 
Then their own flesh and blood
So that generations 
Of the fatherless 
Can see

Our Father in heaven- 
Sacrificial, generous
Present, near
Strong
Full of healing holy love
Slow to anger
Abounding joy
Through his Son 
Brings the fatherless 
Into himself  
So that generations 
Will know their 
Father