By Sathiya Seelan on 15th June 2025
In Taman Sentosa, fatherlessness is not just a statistic — it’s a silent ache etched into the hearts of many children. The role of a father is so significant that when it is absent, others are often forced to step in — mothers, uncles, aunts, grandparents, even siblings. But some roles are irreplaceable.
Each child I meet carries a story. A father who left. A father who died. A father who was abusive or absent. And each of these stories carries a wound.
Today, I had the privilege of counseling two young girls, aged 12 and 13. Their parents left them when they were very young, and they’ve since been raised by their aunt and grandmother. As we talked, it became clear: they have never known the love of a father.
I asked them, “If your father were standing in front of you today, what would you want to say to him?”
Their eyes welled with tears as they responded:
Father, why did you leave us?
Father, why are you only coming now?
Father, can I come and live with you?
Father, I’m very angry with you.
They shared how deeply they miss both their father and mother. More than anything, they feel unwanted — as if their lives don’t matter to the very people who brought them into the world. As I listened, my heart broke. I couldn’t hold back my own tears.
Another moment that struck me happened in our classroom during a Father’s Day activity. We asked the students to create a Father’s Day card with the theme “Father’s Trophy.” As they eagerly began their crafts, one student looked up and said,
“Oh teacher, my father doesn’t need a trophy… he needs a bottle of beer. He’s a drunken man.”
There was no sarcasm in his voice, only raw truth. Laughter erupted around him from those who didn’t understand the weight of what he said — but we teachers did. We saw the pain behind the words. For that child, Father’s Day wasn’t a celebration — it was a reminder of disappointment, addiction, and absence.
These moments are not isolated. Today, many fathers are missing — not just physically, but emotionally. Some are abusive, others indifferent, and many are simply unaware of the deep importance of their role. Being a father is more than just providing food or shelter. A father must be present. He must protect, guide, and most importantly, speak life into his child’s soul.
A father’s words carry weight. His presence brings security. His love shapes identity.
If we are to raise a generation that knows their worth and walks in confidence, we must raise up fathers who understand their calling — not just biologically, but spiritually and emotionally.
Let us not ignore the cry of the fatherless. Let us rise to stand in the gap, to mentor, to love, and to remind every child: You are wanted. You are seen. You are deeply loved.
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.”
— Psalm 68:5“The greatest mark of a father is how he treats his children when no one is looking.”
— Dan Pearce