What Makes Up a Real Man?

I love being able to have conversations with my kids about things they are facing.  Being able to hear them open up about challenges they are up against or things that the Lord has laid on their hearts is such an honor in parenting. In some of our recent conversations, dating has been brought up and also things to look for in the opposite sex. Callie and Caleb, of course, are not of dating age but it is never too early to share those things with them. More than anything, Matt and I want to model for our children the traits that they should look for in someone they would consider dating. We want our children to make sure that dating is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly and should be God-honoring.

 

As I was talking to Callie the other day, I thought back to last summer when a popular movie took to the big screen and caused quite a controversy. The movie brought into question what makes up a “real man”.  I was saddened by the moms, daughters, and girls rushing to the theater to pay and watch men strip off their clothes and then talk about it like this is what a “real man” is. I immediately began praying that my eyes would stay focused on God and that my daughter would not be swayed when she enters the dating world in a few more years. 

As I sat having my quiet time with God one morning, I began thinking of all the traits that make up a real man and here are some of those:

A real man loads his family in the car and drives them to worship the Lord on Sundays.

A real man opens the Word of God for fellowship and direction from the God of the universe.

A real man gathers his family together for a time in God’s Word and prays over them.

A real man views his wedding vows he took with his wife as a covenant with the Lord and not a contract that can be severed whenever things don’t go his way.

A real man guards his eyes with the truths of God’s Word against other women and considers his wife the most beautiful woman on earth even though she has gained some weight.

A real man comes out to the driveway when his wife gets home from the store and helps unload the groceries.

A real man leaves sweet love notes on his wife’s pillow before he has to go out of town on business.

A real man flies his family to the other side of the globe to bring home his third child that was waiting in a Chinese orphanage.

A real man puts his arm around his 16-year-old son and tells him how proud he is of him even after he didn’t play his best basketball game.

A real man cuddles up with his young daughter to watch "High School Musical" again because she loves it.

A real man shows patience when his young son asks him 100s of questions about everything he is doing.

A real man gets up on Saturday mornings and makes chocolate chip pancakes for his family.

A real man carries his wife’s purse as she tries on clothes at the mall.

A real man paints his little daughters fingers and toes with pretty pink nail polish because she wants them to look like mommy’s.

A real man works long hard hours to provide his family with the necessities of life.

A real man treats his grandmother like a beautiful girl and listens to her stories over and over again as if it was the first time he’s heard it.

A real man sets his hobbies aside to spend time with his family in his spare time.

A real man teaches his sons how to treat women with respect.

A real man models for his daughter what she should look for in a guy.

A real man treats others with kindness and teaches his children how to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the world.

Yes, THESE are the traits of a REAL man and he does exist.  This is the man I live with, share my life with, and am honored to call my husband, best friend, and father of my children.  I love you babe!

A real man!

The day I married my best friend!

Caleb's first time in daddy's arms in China!

 

Ben's biggest supporter!

Callie's favorite dance partner!

Our beautiful family!

  

Ephesians 5:25  “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”

Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”