Have you ever met a man who is profoundly masculine yet deeply spiritual? A guy who can pound out 7 miles on a hilly course and still have energy to play? Someone who loves to laugh, even at himself, but is moved to tears — even in public, when confronted with this world’s brokenness? A man whose walk puts God’s Word and character on display because he’s feasted on them for a lifetime?
I know him.
This is what a Real Man looks like
I’ll never forget the first night we visited Jerry and Kathy’s home for a meeting over God’s Word. We were partway through the study when Don, their hulking 15-year-old (middle linebacker) son, walked into the midst of the 10 or 12 of us gathered there and did what I thought unthinkable: he kissed his dad good night. In full view of us all. And smiled at us as he walked calmly out of the room. Neither dad nor son gave it another thought. It was simply part of their routine.
But it rocked my world! To say it changed my life would be an understatement. You see, my dad didn’t touch me except to “apply discipline.” I thought he probably loved me, but he wasn’t able to show physical tenderness. I had no idea that “real men” could demonstrate that kind of gentle, tactile love. It was completely foreign to my thinking and experience. But I wanted it! Oh, how I wanted it. And I wanted to show it to my boys.
Over the 40+ years since that night, Jerry has demonstrated that love again and again. To me, to my kids, and to so many others God brought into his orbit. Jerry and Kathy faithfully lived out Paul’s confession to the Thessalonian believers in his 1st letter to them (I Thess 2:8 NLT), “We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.” Jerry’s body is broken and he’s now housebound, but he continues to love and lead men to a deep awareness of who they are in Christ.
Men, be like Jerry, who looked just like Jesus, to your sons and to the men in your sphere of influence. Be Real Men. (I Cor 16:13 NASB)
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Thanks, Melanie!
Amen Rick. What a beautiful example of a real man from all that you have shared of him. It is unfortunate how this world doesn’t seem to want “real men”. The world continues to try to shape us into anything other than who God made us to be. The enemy is on the attack of men. He starts attacking them at a very young age by trying to confuse our very God given identity (gender identity). He continues doing it through our relationships and into our marriages by telling us there is something “more or better” for us elsewhere that will make us happier (status, money, etc.). When we finally move into parenting, the enemy has us so “self focused” that we don’t know how to be a parent. We continue chasing “our” dreams and leave our children to navigate life without a rudder. How tragic. Fortunately, we serve a God who loves us and is willing to forgive us and transform us back to who He created us to be from the very beginning. “Real men” turn to Jesus during these difficult times and He reorients our path in the direction he had planed for us. It’s never too late to become a real man. Turn to Jesus!
Amen, Steve. You’re dead on!
Very well written and convicting post Brother Rick. Thank you for the blessing.
Thanks, Brother!
That is really wonderful Rick and I know how much you love him! I’m so glad you had him to emulate!
Thanks, Terri!