A man in prison ministry told me an alarming story at a recent conference. For Mother’s Day, he offered Mother’s Day cards to each of the inmates, which they could use to send a note to their mothers. About 700 inmates did so.
For Father’s Day, just one month later, he made the same offer. He provided Father’s Day cards for each inmate. But only 90 of the men wrote a card to their fathers.
Why? Because most of the men didn’t have a father in their lives.
Guys, the life you live before your sons and daughters will leave an indelible mark on the next generation. I offer three suggestions.
- Be sober.
- Be kind.
- Be there.
Recovery Step: God told the prophet, “I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me” (2 Samuel 7:14). Men, be a father to your kids. Better still, be a sober father to your kids.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
