In my community in West Africa, a father’s presence in the home is considered indispensable. His absence, perhaps as a result of death, a divorce in the family, or indifference toward his child, is seen as the major cause of delinquency and failure among children. Without a father’s support and guidance, the child is liable to lose his way.
My dad was an orphan at birth. His childhood was difficult. But he later embraced Christianity, and, with every problem, he faithfully turned to God in prayer. Despite his difficult childhood, he found the spiritual strength to keep on loving his kids, showing them that spirituality is based on love. This gave me strong roots in learning to love God.
When I began to study Christian Science as a grown man, I learned that our true Father is God, the Father of the universe, the only creator of man (man and woman). I see this fundamental truth as the solution to the problem of absentee fathers, elevating mankind to the spiritual understanding that each one of us is being continuously parented by God, Spirit, who loves us, sustains us, keeps us safe, and causes us to be happy and whole, as His image and likeness.
