Happy Father’s Day! If you are enjoying that wonderful relationship with your Father, you are very blessed. It is indeed a HAPPY Father’s Day! Sad to say that this is becoming more and more uncommon. For many children, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are not occasions for celebration. They are no longer Happy days.

Here are the top ten facts and statistics on fatherless homes for 2021:

  • There are 1.8 million “solo” dads in the US.
  • Statistics on absent fathers show that 7 million American dads were absent from the life of all their minor children.
  • Divorces are one of the leading causes of fatherless homes.
  • When it comes to the importance of fathers, statistics can help determine how children see school and education.
  • Father absence statistics show that adolescent women from fatherless homes have a higher chance of getting pregnant.
  • According to the statistics of fatherless homes, 17.4 million children lived in fatherless homes.
  • Fatherlessness stats may be linked to higher rates of suicide in high school students.
  • Children from single-parent homes participate in more government nutrition, education, etc. programs.
  • Fatherlessness may be linked to lower educational levels of African American girls.
  • According to the Department of Justice, statistics on parents in prison show that the number of incarcerated fathers in the US grew significantly in the period from 1991 to 2007. What a shame and tragedy for their children.

In II Samuel 10, Israel was fighting against an enemy. In verse 12 they said, “Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God:” Men, godly men, courageous men are certainly needed in days such as these. Their family needs them. Their children need them. “LET US PLAY THE MEN!”

In Luke chapter 15, we read the familiar story of the prodigal son and how he left home and squandered his inheritance. He ends up in the “hog pen” and has a revelation about his condition. He returns home with a broken and repentant heart and is received and forgiven by his Father. There is a song entitled “Turn Your Heart Toward Home”. It begins with a reference to this father’s prayer, but then makes a wonderful and important statement that should cause us all, as Fathers, to hear the prayers of our children. Here is the song.

Late in the evening, when everyone was sleeping
The Father of the wayward son slipped out in the night,
And looked toward the city and wiped away the tears
And prayed his son could hear his father’s cry,
Turn your heart toward home, Turn your heart toward home,
You’ve been gone so long, turn your heart toward home.

But not only the sons are the wayward ones
There are mothers and fathers who have said their goodbyes
And the sad eyes of children are lookin’ through their tears
Prayin’ mom and daddy could hear their cries,
Turn your heart toward home, Turn your heart toward home,
You’ve been gone so long, turn your heart toward home.

And there are those who have never walked away from home
But in their hearts they’re so many miles away
And the Father in heaven is the only One who knows
If they’d listen they could hear Him say

Turn your heart toward home, Turn your heart toward home
You’ve been gone so long, turn your heart toward home
You’ve been gone so long, Please don’t wait too long

Turn your heart toward home