“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.”
The Bible
Today as we celebrate ‘Father’s Day’ many of us will call up our dad and wish him a “Happy Father’s Day.” We will perhaps get them a special gift of sorts and visit them with it. Our Facebook and WhatsApp statuses will be strung with pictures of our dad and family time. Some of us who have lost our father will perhaps recollect memories of our dad. Indeed, Father’s Day celebrates that person in your life who enabled your arrival into the world. It celebrates the first person you turn to for protection and affirmation. As it is said for a daughter her Dad is her first love and for a son his first hero.
“Father’s Day celebrates that person in your life who enabled your arrival into the world. It celebrates the first person you turn to for protection and affirmation. As it is said for a daughter her Dad is her first love and for a son his first hero.“
But can being a father mean more than just a biological connection? Can a man rise with compassion and love for someone who he has no blood connection to and still become a father? Here we feature one such man who fathered many.
Isaac Manogaram, was the former India Director, for Freedom in Christ International. His journey to fatherhood began over 20 years ago when he and his wife Tara could not have children. So, they decided to adopt their first two kids Sitara and Tarun. In his own words, he says “they brought purpose into our lives.” This addition to their lives opened their eyes to the needs of other children around them, in particular the girl child. Instead of closing their eyes to those abandoned and abused and carrying on with their lives, they responded with love and took in the first 3 girls who needed a home. They did not stop there; they went on to seek and foster over 19 girls which today forms the STEPS girls’ home.
“So, they decided to adopt their first two kids Sitara and Tarun. In his own words, he says “they brought purpose into our lives.” This addition to their lives opened their eyes to the needs of other children around them“
An observer relates an incident regarding the STEPS home on Facebook as “My memory of meeting them and their Steps kids was after a concert held in Hindustan Bible Institute, Chennai a few years ago. There were so many well-dressed kids in Isaac and Tara’s car, all set to go home. One of the tiny ones was sitting on Tara’s lap. And as we were exchanging greetings, the little one wanted to kiss my cheek. And Tara looks at her and says “How many times I have told you not to kiss any stranger like that?” Anyway, the little one had her way and planted a kiss of appreciation on my cheek! Only later did I get to know that the child was from the Steps Home. The happiness and spontaneity of the children just showed that the children were not having a rigid ‘Children’s Home’ atmosphere, but grew up in a place of love and acceptance.”
“The happiness and spontaneity of the children just showed that the children were not having a rigid ‘Children’s Home’ atmosphere, but grew up in a place of love & acceptance.“
Isaac Manogaram recently passed away after a short battle with Covid-19. But his life and legacy remain. He shall not be remembered as a victim of this dreaded disease but as someone who rose as a shining example to many children. “Abandoned no more!” was his choice phrase as he and his wife cared for these kids. If a father is someone who is a daughter’s first love and a son’s first hero, he certainly exhibited this to his children and to the children who are now fostered as part of the STEPS girls’ home. He set an example for many of us to follow. God is described in the Bible as “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” As a follower of Christ, it was this example of fatherhood that Isaac Manogaram chose to emulate. How can we be examples of Christ today as we come across need in various avenues of our life? Can we influence people positively and leave a lasting legacy?
“He shall not be remembered as a victim of this dreaded disease but as someone who rose up as a shining example to many children. “Abandoned no more!” was his choice phrase as he and his wife cared for these kids.“
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