Our Busy Season

June at the Dorcas house is always one of our busiest seasons. Father's Day is just around the corner. For years we realized that our census has consistently been highest in June but didn't really know why. Then last year with a plethora of domestic violence incidents in the news we got a call the morning after Father's Day. One of our clients who had gone back to her abusive husband was in the emergency room at Baptist Hospital. She was badly beaten from head to foot. I went to pick her up and said, "Honey, can you tell me what happened?" As she sobbed the story poured out of all he husband's disappointment in how his kids neglected him on Father's Day and didn't show him the respect he deserved. By the end of the day he was ready to take his anger and frustration out on someone. Unfortunately, she was the only one there. Later I began to ask the other women who lived in Dorcas House if they had ever had similar experiences on Father's Day. The response was overwhelmingly affirmative. So at this time of year more than any other, there are fathers who should be commended and fathers who should be convicted. But above all, there are mothers and children who need a place where they can be safe. They need someone to tell them and show them that there is a Father who loves them unconditionally and will never let them go!