Fatherless Sons

Today I was offered a small job as a "big brother." This past summer I volunteered at a church camp as a counselor. I was in charge of ten boys between the ages of ten and twelve. It was strenuous, but very fun. The mother of one of the boys asked me today after I came down from helping with the children's church if I would be interested in acting as a "big brother" to her son. She is a single parent and works for a local school. After the camp I actually thought about this boy in particular because of some interesting idiosyncrasies of his. What is interesting is that this unlike any of my other"jobs" of volunteer positions would actually provide income. I have for a time been intending to eventually start volunteering at a local children's shelter, but because of financial constraints that has been something that has been regarded as a mid-term goal. Now, though, with this possible position and a possible reference from this mother and also considering that this will be a paying position this goal seems much closer than before. In reference to the boy: I will not be discussing him any further as I do not want to disclose any information that his mother would not want known. She may find out about my little project here through me or a friend and decide to allow more information to be posted, but unless that happens I am quite content to not post further information. I grew up without a father as well. There were times a man from our church would come and hang out with me. Those times I look back with great fondness. There is one problem with them though. Such men and occasions were too few and far between. My mother remarried when I was fourteen and her second husband was a terrible man who at one point nearly killed her. They are divorced now. Ever since then I have had an idea in the back of my mind. An inkling of a thought has been gnawing at my brain. It is an idea for an organization to mentor boys (and girls as well if any women would eventually be interested in this) with out fathers. I know of the Boys and Girls Club of America and there is no doubt that they have been a positive organization for many out there. They have some short comings as all organizations run by humans are bound to have. I have no delusions of "fixing" them or even ever becoming as large as they are, but there are certain things that can and should be improved upon. As I understand they are currently allowing homosexuals to volunteer. While homosexuals are regular members of society as heterosexuals are a gay male doesn't exactly make the best male role-model. There is a lot to growing up in to a man. There are the all the aspects of chivalry to learn (few of which I have really learned). There is the mastery of discretion. Learning how to properly balance strength with gentleness is no easy task either. Most of all growing into a man means becoming the man that God wants you to be. The idea that a man and a woman should together raise children was not just some random decision that God rolled a dice on. God is not a man and He is not a woman. Both genders were derived from His nature. A boy (girls as well) needs a good example of both genders interacting in the manner that God designed. The best example I have had the privilege of seeing was that of my aunt and uncle. Their's is a wonderful marriage.

Ephesians 5
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. This is a part that many people get hung up on so much so that they miss the next portion and in doing so miss the amazing picture of love that is in it. While the wife is to submit the husband is also to sacrifice out of love for his wife even to the point of horrendous pain and death. If this description of marriage is followed any and all conflicts are made pointless and small.

I myself cannot demonstrate all these qualities and set a perfect example, but its a start. I hope that if this idea of a group of mentors takes off in any way at all others will be drawn to help as well.