Several years ago, as a public relations and human interest gesture, a national all-purpose card company offered free Mother’s Day cards to prison inmates. The response from the prisons was amazing. The card company was overwhelmed with requests for the cards. Almost 100 percent of the inmates took advantage of the offer to send best wishes to their mothers on that special day.

Because of the success of the Mother’s Day promotion, the company made the same generous offer for Father’s Day. What a shock! Only three inmates asked for Father’s Day cards.

Last year, I spoke to approximately 45 youths (ages 11 to 17) at a detention center. I asked them this question: “If you were given a choice between sending a Mother’s Day card for that special day or a Father’s Day card, which would you choose?” The results were shocking. The vote was taken by a show of hands. Not one incarcerated young person chose a Father’s Day card. On the other hand, 75 percent enthusiastically raised their hands for a Mother’s Day card.

You may ask, “What’s the message?” The answer is simply that we have many loving, caring, dedicated mothers, but good fathers are in short supply.

Next Sunday, America will honor all the fathers – good and bad. It’s a shame honor isn’t reserved only for those who have merited it. We wonder why we have so many problems today. The main cause is the breakdown of the family. If more fathers took their roles seriously, we would have a better America.

What makes a good father? I’m glad you asked. A good father is the spiritual head of his home. He sets the example for his children because he realizes that character traits are sculptured under his watchful eyes. He also gives his children the greatest gift they could ever receive, and that is loving their mother as God loved the church.

Some of you who read this article and know me must be saying, “He has a lot of room to talk.” You’ve right! I wasn’t a good father, but God in His mercy and because of a good wife protected my children.

To all the fathers who deserve to be honored – Happy Father’s Day! To all those “not so good” dads – it’s never too late to have a new beginning. May God bless all of you!

If you have any questions or comments, please write to Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call (985) 652-8477, or e-mail: hkeller@comcast.net.