WANTED: Parents

I’m upset. I’m upset with selfish people. People who value their own wants and pleasures over anothers.

I’m mad at Britney Spears for thinking that it’s more important for her to party with Paris Hilton than to be at home with her children, recently divorced from their father.

I’m upset with Mary Cheney, daughter of Vice-President Dick Cheney, and her lesbian partner Heather Poe, who have recently began preparing for the arrival of a child. A baby that was artificially inseminated in the womb of Mary Cheney.

The news was welcomed by the president of the largest national gay-rights group, Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign.

"Mary and Heather's decision to have a child is an example that families in America come in all different shapes and sizes," he said. "The bottom line is that a family is made up of love and commitment." (http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/06/cheney.daughters.ap/)

I picked up a book at a used book store a few months ago called “The Role of the Father in Child Development” (http://www.amazon.com/Role-Father-Child-Development/dp/0471117714/ref=ed_oe_h/102-3419377-9900911 ). It was full of psychological research as well as cultural and sociological anthropology all related to the impact a father makes in the development of a child. Their startling conclusion the researchers came to was no less than that a father is, equal to a mother, profoundly vital to the developmental health of a child in all cultures and all civilizations.

Sorry Joe, A family is made up of a mother and a father.

Every child deserves a mother and a father. It is unfortunate and very sad that many children are raised without their father present in their life. However, just because it is possible for a child, by God’s great grace, to grow healthy and happy without a father does not legitimize intentionally depriving a child of a father. I find it selfish for people to bring children into the world without being able to provide that child the things that child deserves and needs.

My wife and I have a friend who is raising a child alone. Her boyfriend was interested in nothing more than an evening of pleasure. Now her son, produced from that selfish encounter, will have to grow into a man without the guidance of a father. My heart breaks for the boy every time I see him. My fist balls up every time I see his father; unconcerned and totally disconnected from his son. She will have to do her best to both provide for and raise the boy alone.

Is it possible? Yes. God’s grace has smiled on many single mothers and allowed them to raise their children in the fear and admonition of God. Through the strength of a community of faith and a vibrant relationship with God many mothers have produced warm, loving and caring homes, raising healthy, happy children.

I know. I am one of those children. It is because of that I pray no child has to grow up without a father or a mother. I believe it is the task of the church to care for these weakest of souls. The government shouldn’t have to step in. The church should be leading the charge in the care for children.

Let’s hear the conclusion of the matter from the Word of God. “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27 KJV) http://bible.cc/james/1-27.htm .

Your children need their father Britney. Mary Cheney, your child will need a father. When you chose to have a child you gave up your right to put your own happiness first. That child became your first priority.

Amen.