I am very full right now. I just finished watching Beast Of The Southern Wild and all I could muster was ‘Wow’ as an emotion. The film was great and there were so many little moments that lead to big revelations in my spirit. None as potent and important as the dynamic of what “Fatherhood” looked like in this film for me. Without looking up any commentary or interviews from the director/producer/writer I’m not sure if that was the intended element to shine through or if a good film will allow whatever is in the viewer to be touched…

Wink played by Dwight Henry was a very powerful character through my lens…I saw myself. I saw my Father. And though I have never met and my Father has never met him I feel like I saw my Grandfather and his Father as well. There was something in the desperation, indignation, and unapologetic acceptance of what from the outside can read as an impossible situation that I found a profound love in…

“I’m your Daddy and it is my job to make sure you don’t die (take care of you)”

A very simple declaration, yet what it means is often misinterpreted and reduced to one of the most meaningless aspects of parenthood there is in financial support. Of course a child needs the basic human needs provided. That is a given. But hungry, hurt, or hapless children cling to those who provide them with a more indispensable form of nourishment and shelter in love.

I have two daughters right now (3 and newbie)…My eldest daughter clings to me due to my love and more importantly despite it. No one loves perfect and money has never loved anyone. We all try to do our best and as a parent you try to leave the best pieces of you with your children to give them the best armory to deal with all the things that will come their way to conquer. She forgives my flaws with such a fluidity that there are times when I’m at my peak of frustration that I can only smile. That forgiveness is the fruits of Fatherhood that all men should know.

I’ve always said, “you show me a man that knowingly is not part of his child’s life and I will show you a truly miserable creature.”

Not all men run from their responsibilities and not all men that “run” do so in pursuit of a better life for themselves. There is a pain that comes with manhood for some of us that is unexplainable, yet it is inexcusable to submit to as you need to be even more pursuant of planting those seeds of love. We live in seasons…no matter how hard the winter of life is for you the spring is always on the way for your children (if blessed), so you better get to planting those seeds of love, because as a Father you truly do reap what you sow.

Real Fathers come in all walks of life…Even more of an example of why you don’t toss a man out of his kids lives or make it any easier for him to be ashamed of his circumstance and not come around his kids, because if he loves them even his failures will be lasting lessons that guide them to a better place.

Who takes ownership of children’s upbringing?

Toby Rich of Scoop Newspaper in Philadelphia gives an interview describing where his focus and where the community’s focus should be regarding our children. This is what I’ve been calling “peer parenting” we are apart of and witnessing the “least parented generation” of children ever in history. Kids are raising kids and television/social media is raising children…where are the parents?? Too young to realize that “living their life” includes those children they laid down to create, not dropping them off to someone or in front of a tv to be raised while you go “live”…criminal. You shouldn’t legally be allowed to continue to bring children in the world and not care for them or abuse them…