Be a man

I got in trouble with someone a little while back, for suggesting to this man that he needed to "man up".  I mean that.  And he got mad.  And then he turned to social media to find some validation in the fact that he was a "victim" (my view.  Ill would be another description that fits, but if you're ill,  being a man includes getting treatment for your illness).  And he mentioned in anger of how disappointed he was in someone who he looked up to in the church that would tell him that.

At least I think he was talking about me, anyway.  We're not speaking so I don't know.  Not my choice by the way, just someone from the old season that couldn't come into the new season.

Last night, I came across an odd passage of Scripture; one kind of aimed at me, I think.  But it's David telling Solomon what he should do as king.  One of his admonitions to his son:

Act like a man.

I won't debate what "manly" is.  I know manly men who aren't into sports.  I know manly men who aren't mechanically inclined.  I sometimes wonder if y'all wonder about my man card.  I do a lot of stuff that traditionally isn't considered guy stuff.  I have to.  I'm alone.

I thought of that guy I was talking about though, and the comments were made in reference to him taking care of himself and his obligations.

And that applies to me too.  It's ben a rough week, and in there I didn't take care of my coat.  I left it on the couch and it got covered in dog hair because the dog slept on it.  I wore it to work.  I rode in the truck and I got to vacuum out the truck because my coat left dog hair on the seats.  Somebody complained.  I got embarrassed.  I apologized.  I told them it wouldn't happen again, and it won't.

Shame on me.

It seems like a small thing, but what I do affects others.  I'm responsible to not make other people uncomfortable.  That's being a man.  Taking care of myself so I don't affect others.  So I took care of the problem and I took steps to ensure I don't do it again.

I didn't lose my temper or get defensive.  They do lots of things I wish they didn't, and I don't complain.  I just take it in stride because we work together.  But when something I do bothers someone to the point of complaining to the boss, that's when I have to step back and look.

So, lint rollers, dryer sheets, and my cool vacuum I got for Christmas will be better used to avoid future pet hair incidents.  It seems like a small thing, but it's really not.  It's about not having a pity party, which I think I was headed for.  It's about being responsible for me, and for how my conduct affects others.  In the hard parts of life, we still need to TCB.

I think it's a good reminder from king to king, that we have responsibilities and we don't get to abdicate them just because life deals us a crushing blow.  I think I'll take that advice and file it away in my memory for the times when life is hard and I don't want to anymore.

Hope y'all have a blessed day.