Every morning this past school year, my neighbor took his small son by the hand and walked the lad with his little backpack, down the street to his elementary school class. I often found that we left for school at the same time — the man with his boy and me, with my middle-school-aged son — getting into the car, while they walked down the street to their school. Watching them every morning made me smile. It was a sweet sight to see and a beautiful way to start the day. Such devotion to his task, this man showed! I admired him; but more than that, I discovered my neighbor had by the end of the year earned my respect. How? Why?

We live in a fatherless society more and more in my country. It is so sad, really. Where are my nation\’s fathers? How do we begin to repair the damage of so many broken families? So many broken relationships? So many broken people? Men who are willing to love single mothers do a great service to their communities, to their families and to themselves. Why, though, would a man do this? I believe it is because this man possesses an inward quality called honor. Of course, sincere love for the woman from which those children came certainly helps! But essentially, we are all flawed and learning how to love one another is a fundamental lesson we are all here to learn. For the single man..it is the definition of a true life purpose and can yield something the inward soul desires at an even deeper level — respect. The man who chooses to love and raise children not his own also does a duty to the greater good. How is this so?

A father is a male who sacrifices for a child his time, his knowledge, and his words. Few people, it seems want this job now — and even fewer know how to do it. Time is the fundamental factor that trumps everything else. It must be understood that words of love do not compare to time in the economy of children…or relationships for that matter. Perhaps that is why the man who is wise enough to perform the duty of staying is worthy of such true respect. It is an act of humility and some might say true spiritual merit to give oneself in service to another — even for a little while. To give yourself to another for a lifetime is graduation to another level altogether. Understand that the woman who is raising the child is already operating on this advanced level and is therefore looking for a partner who can operate on the same level. Yet, so many people walk away from this opportunity to advance and heal in their relationships.

This is essentially a flaw in one\’s character. Essentially, it a lack of integrity. Perhaps, it is our own inability to put away our own selfishness, that prevents us from fulfilling our duties to our children and to our marriages. It really isn\’t convenient, is it? It is after all a McDonald\’s fast food world…who wants to be inconvenienced enough to stop and build relationships with other people when there are so many potential people to choose from? Furthermore, babies do not even talk! Children cannot give back to you in the same way we give to them. THEY ARE NEEDY! Exactly! Which is why the man who took the time to walk his child to school every morning and the men who will take on these types of tasks are worthy of so much respect…and honor.

In a fatherless society, it is the male that is willing to give of himself to children not necessarily his own that builds the trusting environment necessary to grow the new family. The solitary male, who often feels he has had no purpose when he is just working for himself, discovers his presence adds stability and strength to the single mom unit that is so prevalent in American culture. This creates a new grafted-in family where healing and growth can replace the wounds of broken-ness that each person involved carries within.

Mallah Rych Hurst is the editor-in-chief of the online magazine, The Manor Message. She is a graduate of Southwest Texas State University with a degree in Speech Communication. She is the author of two children\’s books and a poetry book. She lives in Central Texas with her husband and son.

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Mallah Rych Hurst is the editor-in-chief of the online magazine, The Manor Message. She is a graduate of Southwest Texas State University with a degree in Speech Communication. She lives in Central Texas with her husband and son.

Author Bio: Mallah Rych Hurst is the editor-in-chief of the online magazine, The Manor Message. She is a graduate of Southwest Texas State University with a degree in Speech Communication. She is the author of two children\’s books and a poetry book. She lives in Central Texas with her husband and son.

Category: Family Concerns
Keywords: broken family, american culture, healing, relationships, family