|
A Father's Love
By Tanya Sturman
"I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's
protection." Sigmund Freud
Yet for 210 million children, this need will never be met. These children are
orphans. A father is a dream. Big hands to hold and comfort, a deep voice to
soothe fears and worries, fishing trips and little league are in the realm of
imagination.
Those who never find a home and never know a father face hurdles and burdens
that no child should bare. In many countries these children will have a
life-long stigma attached to being an orphan. They will not only miss out on the
warmth and acceptance of a family life, but they will not get the education or
job training to enable them to find success in their adult life. Many of them
will be turned out of their orphanage at the age of 16 to live on the streets,
turning to drugs or prostitution for a basic livelihood.
Just as heart-wrenching are the men and women out there who are childless and
dream of taking a son camping or watching a daughter's ballet recital. Many
warm, loving families want to bring these wonderful kids into their homes. Many
try a lifetime to have a child. Some turn to adoption only to find out that the
average cost of $20,000 is an unexpected hurdle. Sometimes it is enough of a
hurdle to prevent them from adopting at all.
There are nonprofit organizations willing to help with these adoption
expenses. A Child's Desire, Inc. is one of these organizations. A Child's Desire
is 100% volunteer based and 100% of Father's Day donations go to adoption
grants. Consider making a donation in your father's name for Father's Day this
year.
Let us remember the men who long to be fathers this Father's Day and the
children who need these men. As you take your father out for dinner or accept a
play-dough ashtray from your preschool son, give a moment of thought to the
children waiting in orphanages for a chance to experience one of these moments.
Even if you are unable to adopt a child yourself you can still make a
difference by volunteering your time or through making a donation, which will
enable another family to overcome the hurdles of adoption.
All children deserve a father's love. Don't make a lonely child wait,
together we can make his dreams come true.
Tanya Sturman is the volunteer director for A Child's Desire, Inc., a 501
c(3) children's charity. More information can be found at
www.aChildsDesire.org
|
