In South Africa we celebrate Fathers’ Day on June 18. Personally I have good memories of my own father who was rather strict by today’s standards, but some of my contemporaries cannot say the same. A few felt abandoned by their fathers when their parents got divorced and one in particular was abused by her father.

I remember reading that a study of 13,986 women in prison showed that more than half grew up without their father. In fact, many studies have been done of prison inmates in most countries, which show that children who grew up without fathers in their lives end up in prison for all kinds of crimes. As family structures and role of fathers diminish in society, the prison population is also growing exponentially.

The Bible has some specific advice for Christian fathers. “…do not embitter your children or they will become discouraged” we read in Colossians 3:21. “Fathers, do not exasperate your children, instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

And what does our Father in heaven have in store for us? “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers…”(Malachi 4: 5,6).

And how will God do this? He has already done it through the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, allowing his Holy Spirit to work through our minds and hearts. Today Christian Fathers can be the greatest blessing any child could wish for. Like their Father in heaven they give their children the good gifts of patience, understanding, encouragement and sometimes, if necessary, tough love.

But we all have a perfect heavenly Father who does not change like “shifting shadows” and from whom we receive every good and perfect gift” (James 1:17).

Happy fathers’ day!