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"There's a hole in my soul
That won't heal
And there's a rage and a pain
Even now I still feel
And even though I'm a man
Still I don't understand
But that's what happens
When you don't have a father
That's what happens
When you don't have a father"
Those are the hauntingly
poignant lyrics from an
Interlude, featuring Fred
Hammond, from Kirk Franklin's
That won't heal
And there's a rage and a pain
Even now I still feel
And even though I'm a man
Still I don't understand
But that's what happens
When you don't have a father
That's what happens
When you don't have a father"
Those are the hauntingly
poignant lyrics from an
Interlude, featuring Fred
Hammond, from Kirk Franklin's
How to Let God Fill the Void Left by an Absentee Father
of the baggage, mental anguish, and emotional turmoil on your own.
For those who have healthy relationships with their dads, they cannot fully understand how you
feel. Sunday, June 19 was a joyous occasion for them. But, for you, things are a bit different. Even
if Father's Day didn't bother you too much-- it came and went pretty quickly--there are other
times when you likely struggle emotionally.
Trust me, I know. My father left when I was only a baby. My mother shows me pictures of him
holding me, but I don't remember him. His afro, sunglasses, and polyester checkered suit from the
late sixties, all seem strange and unfamiliar. But feelings of hurt, confusion, and sometimes, anger,
have come to visit me every time he didn't.
But something happened around 2 years ago while Iwas casually reading a Sunday School lesson.
Romans 8:15 jumped out at me! It said, "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave
again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" It hit me
like a ton of bricks that I have been adopted into the family of God. I am special to God, and
because of my adoption, according to Romans 8:16-17, I am an heir of God and a joint-heir with
Jesus Christ. Not only have I been given a new father, but as an added bonus, I now have an
inheritance!
That changed my life and perspective forever.
If you're reading this article today, you're probably struggling with this issue in some way as well.
So, how do you get over this tough hurdle? By recognizing that whatever void has been left by an
absentee father, can be filled by your Heavenly Father. Once you received Christ into your heart,
you were adopted into the family of God. Of course it's not easy missing out on having a natural
father to love you through life, but God will love you to life. The depth of His compassion, loyalty,
and good will is immeasurable. He can reach into those places where you hurt and take the pain
away. No earthly being could ever do that.
Sure, there will be times when, naturally, you will feel a hint of sadness and gloom come over you.
There are occasions when I feel the spirit of heaviness coming upon me. But, when this happens, I
remind myself of how the best father in the world, my Heavenly Father, is absolutely crazy about
me.
And he feels the same way about you, too.
For those who have healthy relationships with their dads, they cannot fully understand how you
feel. Sunday, June 19 was a joyous occasion for them. But, for you, things are a bit different. Even
if Father's Day didn't bother you too much-- it came and went pretty quickly--there are other
times when you likely struggle emotionally.
Trust me, I know. My father left when I was only a baby. My mother shows me pictures of him
holding me, but I don't remember him. His afro, sunglasses, and polyester checkered suit from the
late sixties, all seem strange and unfamiliar. But feelings of hurt, confusion, and sometimes, anger,
have come to visit me every time he didn't.
But something happened around 2 years ago while Iwas casually reading a Sunday School lesson.
Romans 8:15 jumped out at me! It said, "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave
again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" It hit me
like a ton of bricks that I have been adopted into the family of God. I am special to God, and
because of my adoption, according to Romans 8:16-17, I am an heir of God and a joint-heir with
Jesus Christ. Not only have I been given a new father, but as an added bonus, I now have an
inheritance!
That changed my life and perspective forever.
If you're reading this article today, you're probably struggling with this issue in some way as well.
So, how do you get over this tough hurdle? By recognizing that whatever void has been left by an
absentee father, can be filled by your Heavenly Father. Once you received Christ into your heart,
you were adopted into the family of God. Of course it's not easy missing out on having a natural
father to love you through life, but God will love you to life. The depth of His compassion, loyalty,
and good will is immeasurable. He can reach into those places where you hurt and take the pain
away. No earthly being could ever do that.
Sure, there will be times when, naturally, you will feel a hint of sadness and gloom come over you.
There are occasions when I feel the spirit of heaviness coming upon me. But, when this happens, I
remind myself of how the best father in the world, my Heavenly Father, is absolutely crazy about
me.
And he feels the same way about you, too.
By Pamela Jones, Special to EEW Magazine
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hearts and minds of millions of women and men, who, year after year, deal with the pain inflicted
by an absentee dad. Whether your father was missing because of divorce, death, abandonment, or
some other complicated situation, the pain can be overwhelming. That is, if you try to deal with all
by an absentee dad. Whether your father was missing because of divorce, death, abandonment, or
some other complicated situation, the pain can be overwhelming. That is, if you try to deal with all
