A father takes his child up in his arms and lifts the child in the air. He looks in the child’s eyes and tells him, “you are special to me, and you will always be close to my heart.” The child grows older and has some difficulty adjusting in school, goes through adolescence with the usual struggles, and again the father pulls his son to him, hugs him, and says, “you are special to me, and you will always be close to my heart.” This is the gift of a father’s heart that so many people have missed. In fact, I believe that it is the father’s heart for his children that can turn the course of so many communities around the world if we could revive the hearts of the fathers.
If communities around the world are going to be successful in saving our youth, we are going to have to discipline ourselves for the success of our children. Mothers, it is going to take discipline to get beyond the pain caused by the fathers of your children in order to turn the heart of your children towards their fathers. Fathers, it is going to require forgiveness for mothers who have hurt you and reaching out to your children. This is an unusual discipline that is going to change our neighborhoods and communities around the world.
Dads, it is time to touch the hearts of your children. If you have hurt them, ask for forgiveness, and do all you can to heal the wounds. When we do this, dads will take their rightful place in the world again. Let’s discipline ourselves for the successful recovery of our children.