I saw a patient in the office today who suffers from depression. She has had suicidal ideations historically and has even acted out in self-harm.

Why? She thinks that most of it stems from the divorce of her parents when she was a young child and the subsequent departure of her father from the home.

She is seeking counseling and fortunately things are looking up at this moment in time. Her Christian faith has helped. But she has always suffered from the feelings of poor self-worth since her father abandoned the home.

What about Whitney’s Houston’s father? Have you noticed that there has not been a single word said in the tabloids that I have read about her father, or the lack of one thereof?

What effect has the departure of her father had on the life and subsequent tragic death of Whitney?

We can gain comfort in knowing that God calls himself the God of the widows and orphans. He knows that a male/father figure is essential to a healthy family.