soulbrother v.2: Far Better Men than I: My Vision for My Sons

soulbrother v.2: Far Better Men than I: My Vision for My Sons

Max, thank you for this post. I have to confess that I passed over this post initially. My first urgings were that this was going to another one of those false attempts at the subject. One where the writer gives up some fantastical depiction of manhood draped in machismo, myth and ignorance. You didn't, you captured the essence of what I've always felt. This was so honest, I am glad I listened to that little voice that told me to go ahead and check it out.

Many of the things you stated, I have learned the hard way. Thank God I never created any children along the way but I had a careless period.

You had more than I had though, my father didn't even bother. This question has been banging around in my head for forty years. My father left us when I was about six years old.

The night he had enough and walked out I heard an audible voice say "things will never be the same", and it wasn't.

My mother was an angry woman before my father left. Her father was a functioning alcoholic with abusive tendencies and a philanderer. He has three sets of children with three different women. My father most certainly maid it worse. No man ever had a chance after that. Imagine being the son of a woman in that situation. I caught it for real.

All through my life I would ask myself "is this what a man would do""would a man put up with this?" "how does a man handle this?". I had no point of reference, my mother never allowed another man into her life.

I have learned these things: Honor is real and recognizable, though rewards may be slowly and begrudgingly given so your solace must be in honor itself.

Your actions must be measured until such time as to turn it loose and go for what you desire. If all your steps are certain, you haven't extended yourself when your opportunity presented itself. You will have to step out on faith sometime.

In your meekness you are strong. Bravado and bluster is foolish more often than not. There is a time a place for all things. You will be brought to your knees along the way. At such a time you will discover a great strength.

You will have to endure strife. From those you call your own and those you don't know, but mostly from within yourself. Experience is the best teacher after all.. This will be how you develop the patience of God.

You must love. This is the greatest strength of all, without this ability you will be consumed.

You must provide for more than yourself. If you haven't learned to love you will get this wrong and will not have mattered when your story has ended.

There is more but this is enough.