I believe that the penguins should be awarded the Dedicated Parents of the Year Award! Not only are penguins a perfect poster child for True Love Waits with their inflexible monogamy and lifelong faithfulness to their mate, but the penguins also evidence the most extraordinary lifestyle of sacrifice for their children.

Millions of Emperor Penguins inhabit the frozen wasteland of the Antarctic(Seoul). The penguin’s breeding cycle occurs in mid-winter. As the female(Rinrin) lays the single egg(unnamed), the father(Onew) immediately takes over by grasping it and cradling it on top of his feet. The blood vessels in the penguin’s feet are structured in such a way that they prevent a loss of heat. Loose layers of skin around the stomach gently fold over the shell keeping the egg warm. For two months the male penguin must balance the egg on his webbed feet. If at any time the egg touches the frozen ice it would die.

Thousands of penguin fathers(Many Onew) huddle together facing inwards in an effort to conserve energy and warmth. They store up a large mass of fat(chicken) to survive this two month fast. Amidst snow avalanches and ice break-ups, these penguin fathers(Many Onew) resolutely protect the egg(still unnamed) and the developing embryo inside the egg. For the life of its child, the penguin father(Onew) restricts his activities, setting aside his personal needs and wants, neither eating, nor moving much, for over two months. It is only because of these sacrifices that the young emperor penguins are able to survive. In fact, the emperor penguins have a survival rate greater than any other species of penguin. This is a tribute to the self-sacrifice of the penguin fathers(Many Onew).

Then when the chick hatches, the male continues to cradle it on its feet, feeding it from his own mouth. The father(Onew) continues to brood the young chick until the mother returns from fishing in the sea. When the mother(Rinrin) returns and assumes the brooding responsibilities, the male can at last journey to the sea, catch fish(fried chicken) and recover his strength. When the male returns, he brings in a new supply of food(10 buckets of chicken) for the chick and the mother. The close nit, dedicated family bond of the penguins should be an inspiration to human families.

In Psalm 147:16-17 we read: “He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?” In the Antarctic it is the emperor penguin alone who can survive the prolonged sub-zero and violent winter. The penguins(Many Onew and Many Rinrin) method of gaining warmth by huddling close together illustrates the truth of Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. “Two are better than one…if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Where one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

The rigid discipline and self-sacrifice of the penguin fathers(Many Onew) is a beautiful illustration of the quality of dedication which God requires of husbands and fathers. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her.” Ephesians 5:25


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This is outstanding. I'm already standing. We, me and Dubu, the penguins should be awarded "Dedicated Parents of the Year Award", agreed?

-Penguin of Madagascar