By Demetrius Moffett

One of the misconception and expectations is that fathers love like mothers.

I know we say we don’t but, in our hearts, we look for fathers to hug and kiss and love on us like a mother would simply because in most cases it’s the mother that shows us and introduces us to our first experiences of love.

A father’s love is so much different and in its own way has enormous value and power.

A father’s love is defined in his leaving.

Every father leaves.

Some leave for good reasons, some leave for bad reasons. But every father leaves.

Some of you, at this point, might degree. That’s fine, its your right to do.

However, with every fabric and fiber of my being I truly believe that a father’s love is not defined in his stayings but his leavings.

The bible says in Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,”

Inheritance – the acquisition of characters or qualities of importance or valuable transmitted from parent to offspring…a legacy.

A father is tasked according to the scripture to impart and leave several things not only to his children, but his grandchildren as well. What good is a father to say in his child’s life, but leave them nothing?

In a father’s love he leaves the inheritance of self-confidence and self-worth.

In a father’s love he tells his daughter that she is a princess, which begins to develop in her regalness.

In a father’s love he leaves the inheritance of masculinity through the example of taking pride in the work that he does that develops in his son strong work ethics, success and accomplishments.

In a father’s love he leaves the inheritance of discipline that reduces the need to be disciplined.

It’s a father’s love he leaves the inheritance that shapes, builds and cultivates a lasting, loving relationship with God.

So again, I ask. What good is it to have a father to say in his child or children’s life if he’s not leaving a legacy, an inheritance to build the quality of life for his family?

There are too many of our children that are aborted after birth by fathers who have chosen to leave negativity.

Even if you feel you can’t stay, think about what you will leave. Your love and legacy are defined by it.

 

Demetrius Moffett is Senior Pastor of Orange Church of God, 1911 North 16th Street in Orange.