Lesson 1: Being a man

Son(s),

You will have many people telling you what being a man means. The media, your friends, your church, your feelings, movies, tv, comic books, the Bible, your mom, grandparents and cousins and aunts and uncles, your coworkers, your classmates, your teachers, your professors, your coaches, your bosses, all of these sources will be telling you how to act manly, what it means to be a man.

So let me tell you the only person who really matters, and no, it's not me. It's Jesus.

I'm sure that gender lines will continue to blur as you grow older. What it means to be a man will continue to become harder to pin down. I'm actually ok with that. So here is the lesson: What does it mean to be a man?

Answer: There is no correct definition.

Don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise.

I mean, sure, having a penis counts for something, but really we are called as followers of Jesus to be who we are made to be. We aren't called to be men or women, we are called to be followers of Jesus.

Of course God makes us different for a reason. Women can make babies, we cannot. Men biologically have more testosterone than women, we are naturally bigger and in general we have more agressive tendencies.

But these are just tendencies and biology. They don't mean anything to an individual. So no matter if you are a sports playing, weight lifting, spitting, jock or a quiet, gentle, chess playing geek, God made you that way to best glorify Himself.

You are created to worship God and enjoy him. So no pressure. Don't worry. Manliness is acting how God created you to be.

Some people might tell you that you can't feel deeply because you are a man. That isn't true.

Some people might tell you that a man loves sports or is naturally athletic. That isn't true.

Some people might tell you that showing weakness is not manly. That isn't true.

Emotions are not our enemy. They are not a woman's "domain."

Live, learn, grow, love, explore, create, feel, pursue, give, fight, surrender, play, read, work, be adventurous.

Do not let anyone who doesn't love you unconditionally define you, and the only person who loves you like that is Jesus, so only he should define what it looks like when you are a man.

Love,

Dad