Son, Lead Where Appropriate

Below are three adjectives and their definitions from an on-line dictionary:

• Passive – tending not to participate actively and usually letting others make decisions
• Uncommunicative – not willing to say much or tending not to say much
• Indifferent – showing no care or concern for, or interest in, somebody or something.

Why did I choose to look up the meaning of these 3 adjectives?

Hmmmmmm.

If you can unscramble the following phrase you will figure out why: heT amle otulopnpai.

Did you get it? Okay. Okay. I do not want you wasting forty-five minutes trying to decipher this code – you have much more important things you should be doing – so I will just tell you. Here it is: The male population.

Now before anyone thinks we are men-bashers here at girltalk, let me explain. I am referring to a stereotypical description of the male population. A comparable list of adjectives could just as easily be drawn up for the female population. Can anyone say: manipulative, nagging, busybodies?

Women are not better than men. Neither do all men fit the stereotypical mold. I know many men whose lives, by God’s grace, defy these adjectives. They lead. They serve. They care. My husband is one of these men! 

CJ and I desire to raise a son who also defies this stereotypical description of men. We want him to be an example of godly masculinity by the grace of God. That’s why we are challenging him to lead where appropriate.

Here are a few directives we give our son:

• Be the first to pray in group settings.
• Be the first to take an interest in others.
• Be the first to lead in conversation.
• Be the first to stop a conversation that is not edifying.
• Be the first to offer to serve others.

With this list, we come to the end of Chad’s “Show Yourself a Man” Plan. However, there is one more essential responsibility I have as his mom. You can read about it in the next post.