Her Body, Her Choice; His Heart

We are faced with so many issues currently. One of those issues that really gets to me relates to the “Her Body, Her Choice” movement. I am not getting into the many arguments of what’s good and what’s bad about this, however just want to focus on one of the biggest issues this movement. That issue is this: There is always one silent victim in abortions. Many other times, there are two.

This is a true story that reveals this issue.

 

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One day at work, I was speaking to one of my coworkers. We were catching up on our lives and the topic of abortion came up. This lead him into telling me a story of recent events in his life. He was driving down a familiar road past a familiar building. Outside of this familiar building, he saw a lot of protesters. He wasn’t sure what was going on and one of his family members, sitting in the back of the vehicle, informed him they were protesting the abortion clinic that was there. He had no idea it was an abortion clinic.

He also had a male cousin in the car with him who also didn’t know that it was an abortion clinic. This cousin went quiet for a while. Then he went into a story about how, a few years before this, he took his then girlfriend there. She simply told him that she had an appointment and did not go into any details. A few hours later, she finally came out and he was very concerned about her because the appointment took so long. He pressed her for a bit, but she did not discuss any details and just related that she was fine.

This young man, found out on this day, a few years after this had happened, that he had taken his girlfriend to an abortion clinic. He found out this day, that he lost his baby. He found out this day he was a father and that this opportune privilege was taken from him by someone’s choice and he had absolutely no say in the matter. He found out this day that he was one of three victims, and for years, the second silent victim. 

Fathers matter too.

© Joshua Curtis, 2019

The Making of a Muscle-bound Man

Photo by Victor Freitas on Pexels.com

 

One of the quintessential aspects of manhood: Strength! As men, we are expected to be strong. We tease and poke-fun at each other for weakness when putting a nemesis down or encouraging a friend on.

This strength is also supposed to permeate our entire lives. It’s not just physical. We have to be strong emotionally, mentally, in our spirits; in our souls. Of course, depending on the family, culture, nation, etc. that we are raised in, this strength can look very different. For some men, it is strength to let a women run over them and in others, to put that woman “in her place”, even physically if need be. For some, it is strength to fight as fast as possible and for others it’s strength to run and survive.

With so much confusion about men’s strength, what is a real standard for us to follow? I think there are many qualities of strength in a good man. However, I think there are two words that sum up where we really need to start when it come to being strong – both based on one Scripture.

 

 

Proverbs 24.10 reads, “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” (ESV)

First word – courage! We must be willing to stand for truth and righteousness in the day of adversity. If we are to be strong, we must learn – and be willing to be taught – how to stand in the face of adversity. I also like what C.S. Lewis said regarding courage: “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” We see this throughout Scripture, but one famous verse is God speaking to Joshua in chapter one of that book. “Be strong and courageous.”

 

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Of course, just looking over this verse, it can apply to anyone. However, when we dig a little deeper, we can see how it apply a little more specifically to men as we find a very interesting meaning for the word adversity. One of the meanings is ‘rival wife’, and oh how easily we can be distracted by the femme fetale.

 

 

This brings us to our second word: Faithfulness! I think this is something that – in my country – is way undervalued. Men are prided on how many women they can “get with”, but that is opposite of reality. In reality, we are called upon to be faithful! This is not only what God expects of us, but also examples. He is faithful to keep his covenant with us himself, by putting his spirit and laws within us. He keeps the covenant going. Secondly, he tells us husbands to love our wives like Jesus loves his church and to give ourselves up for them (Ephesians 5.25-33). However, this word is so much bigger than just physical faithfulness. It is also spiritual, mental, in our hearts, souls, imaginations, etc. And, it certainly includes how we relate to and treat God in our lives.

 

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So men, yes, let us be strong. However, if our strength is not rooted in righteousness and discipline, if it is only physical, if it does not flow out of courage and faithfulness, we are lacking. Speaking for myself, these are areas that God is certainly growing in me and has been for years. I am currently going through a season I can tell God is working on both of these areas again! Prayers are welcome!

 

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I know, I am putting a post up for men today. However, HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all the mamas out there! I know speaking for myself, I got a lot of strength from my mom growing up and certainly get much from my wife everyday. I am speaking in this post of men’s strength, but the strength of a woman is a beauty to behold and should continue to encourage and spur us men on! Our families – the second most important reason for us to be strong!

 

 

© Joshua Curtis, 2019