Giving fathers a bad name

This morning I read about a man in Flint Michigan who has been jailed because he owes $530,000 in child support for 14 children he fathered by 13 women.-Prosecutors say he's giving fathers a bad name.

I read the particulars of the incident and pondered on it.

The man's name is Thomas Frazier and he may hold the unenviable title of biggest deadbeat dad.

"This guy gives fathers a bad name," said Genesee County Friend of the Court Jack Battles.

Frazier says he's not sure all of the children are his, but he hasn't paid any support claims for that he owns. He says he's the victim because he faces about $3,000 a month in child support payments

In October of 2008, Friend of the Court officials said Frazier gave them a false Social Security number and tried to convince investigators he was someone else.

He remained under the radar until late last month when he got pulled over in Iowa for a broken taillight on his Mercedes Benz.

Frazier says he "messed up" and wants to take care of his mistakes, but hopes the Friend of the Court will knock down his bill to a more manageable $200,000 and set him free.

What is the responsibility of a father? Is it to simply father as many children as possible then leave the children to fend for themselves? A man with one child usally finds that it takes most of his time, talent and energy to provide true nurture. A man with more than one child doesn't have a life of his own anymore, he belongs to them.

Generally, children require more than just a child support check. They require a father's time, counsel, love and resources. Child support only considers the money part; and a very small part at that.

What caught the headlines for Mr. Frazier is the fact that he owes $530,000 in child support for 14 children that grows at the rate of $3,000 a month. What's not in the news is the time, counsel and love that he also owes.

Most of the children he has never seen,or spoken to, let alone provided for.

In rearing my three sons I found it necessary to be present in every aspect of their lives as a father: School PTA, Scouts, music lesson, plays, church, and recreation. It meant teaching them to type, use a computer (computers were new then), write a fluid sentence, handle money, and to be sexually responsible. Even doing all of that I fell short in many areas.

Fatherhood is a tough job.

Fathers who neglect their children provoke them in later years to hate them and to disrespect the name of image. That is not what God intended.

Ephesians 6:4 put it this way, "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

It's bad enough that some fathers must be forced by courts to support their children. It's even worse, when even then they do shierk their responsibilities.

They give millions of good fathers a bad name and they lose favor with our heavenly father who never misses a day supporting us.