What does it really mean to be a man?

Examples are getting harder to come by.

I can tell you it’s rarely done well, but here’s what I’ve noticed in the men who’ve done it right:

A real man shows honor.

He builds others up instead of tearing them down. In fact, he hates tearing people down.

He speaks well of people, even when it doesn’t make sense.

He isn’t threatened by someone else’s strength or their weakness. He embraces both.

A real man serves.

He forsakes self-preservation.

He shows up when it’s inconvenient.

He thinks of himself less, not less of himself.

He protects and provides first and foremost.

He doesn’t virtue signal and he’s okay if people don’t like him for it.

A real man is courageous. Not because he’s strong, but because he still shows up when he isn’t.

He confronts his past instead of avoiding it.

He cries.

He faces discomfort instead of looking for an escape.

A real man is honest about his imperfections.

He doesn’t hide weakness. He relishes in his own growth opportunities.

He gives grace. Lots of it.

He values wholeness over perfection. And he knows the difference intimately.

Most importantly, he knows his place, he bows his head, and he bends his knee to his Creator.

This is what manhood should look like.

Let’s pray we never lose our examples.