A shining quality of manhood is sacrifice.
It is not about you being served. It is about you being a servant of God.
You priests pour yourselves out for those entrusted to your care.
You husbands, if you are worthy of such a title, are living out a life of
sacrifice for your wife and children.
You teens take note - I do not know what example you've been given,
but either way you can learn. If your biological father does not know how to BE a father, you can still learn what not to do.
I think of my own dad holding down two jobs while taking evening college courses.
Oh, and did I mention that at the same time, this father of 12 children was virtually rebuilding our
house from the inside - electric, plumbing, drywall... AND still he had time to lull us to sleep playing piano
as we drifted off to dreamland? Good job Dad.
And I whine at times because our little family seems to be on a merry-go-round as we travel
the country to wake sleepy catholics.
I'm thankful for the example and am sorry for those of you who did not have a father to learn this from.
Sacrifice is part of authentic manhood. Get used to it. Be open to it. Don't shy away from hardship.
At the same time watch out that you don't become a work-a-holic as it tends to make you unapproachable - and your so called 'work' may be an excuse to get out of fathering.
Mentoring, listening, praying, encouraging, challenging, guiding, teaching, correcting... a man is called to be many things, do many things, and endure many things for the sake of his children.
1 comment:
Embracing sacrifice is core to being a Christian man. Jesus taught us the sacrifice of obedience...the emphasis is on His obedience not the physical suffering. Like Jesus we are to pass along the goods that we receive, because all good originates with God and is intended to return to God. When we receive grace and gifts, they are not a private collection to amass. The world tells us that we get rich by holding onto goods. Christ tells us to pass on the good we receive as they are intended to build up the Church. This is a true paradox of Christianity, when we give we both share and receive at the same time. St Francis has told us that it is ONLY in giving that we receive and that in dying we are born to eternal life. Men pour out your self, so God can fill your empty cup with His goods to overflowing.
Lord make us a river to our children and to all of your children.
In the Name of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of May,
Amen
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