A Father’s Influence
by Annie Yorty ©2022
What do you identify as? That seems to be a prevailing question these days. Current wisdom says base your identity on your feelings in the moment. No wonder we’re having a collective identity crisis! On Father’s Day, let’s consider a father’s influence on identity.
Growing up as the fifth of six children, I was often identified by other people. “Oh, you’re ___________’s sister,” the teachers would say, usually naming the one of my four older brothers who got into the most trouble.
Naming Traditions
The practice of being known by a family member began long ago in many cultures and persists in some today. Instead of brothers, people were identified by their father’s name. For example, a man named Stephen would be introduced to others as Stephen, David’s son. Over time, the father identifier, David’s son, morphed into a last name we still use today—Davidson. There are many others: Johnson, Jackson, and Williamson, just to name a few.
In Russia, a child is given a middle name that corresponds to the father. The endings for male and female are different, but the beginning part of the name is the father’s first name. If the dad’s name is Ivan, a daughter’s middle name would be Ivanovna, and the son’s middle name would be Ivanovich.
In America, we have moved away from these strict naming customs, but we should acknowledge the truth they represent.
A father significantly influences the identity of his child.
Consider some different types of fathers and the identity a child might assume based on their attitudes and actions.
Distant Father
A father who is in the home but rarely gets involved in his child’s life communicates, “I see you, but you’re low on my list of priorities.” His child might conclude she’s not worth the time.
Lazy Father
A father who won’t work to support his family says, “Your needs are not worth my effort.” His child might infer she’s on her own, that she must take care of herself.
Absent Father
A father who never lived in the home with his child and rarely visits says, “You are just a byproduct of my own self-gratification.” His child realizes she is not wanted.
Loving Father
Consistent and caring involvement by a father says, “I will sacrifice whatever it takes to provide everything you need.” His child believes she is valuable and loveable.”
A father significantly influences the identity of his child. Share on XFatherlessness
The cultural trend in America is to discount the importance of fathers for the healthy development of children. Yet statistics from Focus on the Family indicate the dire consequences of fatherlessness:
- 71% of all high school dropouts come from homes with absent fathers
- 85% of all youth in prison come from fatherless homes
- 90% of all homeless and runaway children come from fatherless environments
- 70% of teen suicides occur in homes where there isn’t a dad
There’s no denying this social experiment has failed miserably.
The Influence of the Father of Lies
Satan’s goal is to weaken and break the institution God designed to reflect His character and His glory. God created the family structure to provide a safe and loving home for children to be taught how to love and serve Him.
Satan may succeed in tainting earthly families with sin, but he’ll never thwart the spiritual family lovingly presided over by Father God Himself.
Our Heavenly Father’s Influence
Are you one of the many victims of Satan’s attack on the family? Perhaps you have developed a false or confused identity because your father failed in some way. Often, this problem passes down from generation to generation.
As one who answers “yes” to this question, I’m now seeking Father God’s identity for me. I read God’s Word to learn the truth about who I am and His plan for my life.
What better time than Father’s Day to think about your own father’s influence? Celebrate and thank God for the good you received from him.
If fatherly deficiencies dominate your memories, talk to our Father in heaven about your need to identify with Him. If you haven’t already done so, receive Christ so you may join the family of God and call on Him as Abba, or Daddy.
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15 NLT).
Once God adopts you as His son or daughter, He’ll help you understand and operate out of a new identity.
Satan may succeed in tainting earthly families with sin, but he’ll never thwart the spiritual family lovingly presided over by Father God Himself. Share on XThis means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)!
When people meet you, do they immediately say, “Oh, you’re God’s child!”
If so, you’ve been blessed with the Father’s influence.
Join the conversation:
Share something your father (earthly or heavenly) did for which you’re grateful.
Have you seen the movie Show Me the Father? I’d love to hear what you think.
I welcome your comments!
18 Comments
Nancy E. Head
Our country has ignored the crucial contribution fathers make for decades all to our own peril. Great post, Annie! God bless!
Annie Yorty
Thanks, Nancy. Blessings to you too!
Cheri rhoads
Hi Ann, I love this so much. Fathers who love the Lord and lead their families according to Godly scriptures is to be blessed.
Thank you for your wisdom ♥️
Annie Yorty
Thank you so much! These fathers show us a wonderful example of God’s love.
Jennifer
Those statistics are staggering. My Heavenly Father gave me the best earthly father. He represented love to me in a way that I have never doubted Gds love for me. For that I am eternally grateful.
Annie Yorty
You are extremely blessed, Jennifer. I pray this for every child, but I praise Father God, who overcomes the failures of men (and women, for that matter).
Candyce Carden
I’m so thankful for my loving father and the loving father who parents my children. I agree with you about the impact a father makes – both those present and those missing in action. I haven’t seen the movie but would love to check it out.
Annie Yorty
What a blessing, Candyce. The movie is a documentary, but there’s a story with a twist that will surprise you.
Barbara Latta
A father’s influence is so important. The absence of a loving father in a child’s life is reflected in the statistics of violence today. Thanks for sharing.
Annie Yorty
So true, Barbara. Thanks for visiting!
Yvonne Morgan
I am so thankful to God for my earthly father. He was not perfect but he did teach me so much and taught me about Christ. Fathers do have a significant role in their children’s lives and need to be covered in prayer.
Annie Yorty
That’s great, Yvonne. God honors those fathers who do their best to pass on the good news of Jesus to their children. And, yes, we need to pray, pray, pray.
Sylvia Schroeder
I found the opposite titles “Father of lies,” and “Heavenly Father” interesting. I’m not sure I’ve ever really considered both have a title of father. Thanks for pointing that out. Great post. Fathers do significantly influence their children.
Annie Yorty
I noticed that too, Sylvia. Satan is the counterfeit, wanting desperately to take God’s place.
Joanna Eccles
I am thankful to be defined by what my Heavenly Father says of me, and I pray for those who need to know His love.
Annie Yorty
Amen, Joanna. Thanks for visiting!
Katherine Pasour
A beautiful message, Annie! As the product of a distant father, your post really touched me. It took me many years to learn how to deal with the residual pain caused by feeling unimportant and worthless. It culminated in me seeking a need to be in control, which resulted in many broken relationships. I’m so thankful for our loving Father’s faithfulness and unfailing love. Only through the Father and the Son have I come to know the true meaning of love.
Annie Yorty
Katherine, you and I have something in common. I thank God for being my heavenly Father.