ONE
Being a gentleman is still worth the
effort:
Hold the door.
Stand up when a woman leaves or
joins the table.
Walk on the “splash†side of the
sidewalk.
Attempt (gently) to pick up the tab.
Go get the car when it’s raining.
Offer your hand
TWO
At the same time, be respectful: All the
above “gentlemanly†actions must be
offered subtly, and – if necessary – set
aside graciously when refused.
THREE
Take responsibility: In a word (well, two),
“step up.†True manhood takes
responsibility for its actions, choices,
values and beliefs. And while taking
responsibility, manhood is also willing to
admit with grace – when it is wrong.
FOUR
Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable: Real
strength allows other people in. Manhood
is honest about feelings and not afraid
to be known. True manhood never builds
a wall where there should be a window,
or a fortress where there should be a
sanctuary.
FIVE
Actually being a man is more important
than talking like one: Real men don’t just
stand up and speak up – they put up
too. Loud talk and tough posturing don’t
cut it. True manhood involves finding a
need and doing something about it. Real
men don’t complain about social
problems, they go out and do something
about them. Real men don’t point
fingers, they work for solutions. Real
men get calluses on their hands.
SIX
Listen respectfully, disagree politely and
never exclude women from conversation:
True manhood is inclusive. It may be
strong, but it’s unfailingly polite. Men
who equate bluster or machismo with
strength are typically covering something
up. Men who think women have nothing
to contribute to the conversation need
to wake up and smell the 21st Century.
SEVEN
Love is stronger than muscles: True
manhood understands that brute force is
less compelling than self-giving love.
The best solutions to difficulties involved
applied love.
EIGHT
The first shall be last: True manhood
puts others first. Jesus is quoted more
than once as saying something like this:
If you want to be a leader, then the
place to be is on your knees, with a
towel in your hand, washing someone’s
feet.
NINE
Manhood is sometimes – more about
what you could do but didn’t than what
you could have avoided but did anyway:
There’s a lot of restraint a great deal of
“Quiet Strength†in true manhood. Real
men tend to always have something in
reserve.
TEN
True manhood is more about giving than
about getting: Our culture often touts a
men see what they want, then they go
out and get it view of manhood. But true
manhood is more along the lines of see
what the world needs, then go out and
do it. Strength leveraged for the benefit
of others.
