Emotional Resilience. That’s what they called it. And they followed up the name with this description: Encouraging boys to embrace aspects of traditional masculinity, like stoicism and fortitude, can foster emotional resilience. And this doesn’t mean to suppress emotions. But learn to handle emotions in a way that prepares them for life’s challenges. Boys can grow up to be men who are less likely to be overwhelmed by setbacks. And that contributes to mental health stability.
Wow. It takes emotional resilience just to read that description.
The description reminded me of something I say a lot these days (even if it’s just to myself). Why use a hundred words when a thousand will do?
Anyway…
Even when I was a preschooler I heard “emotional resilience” described like this. “Turn it off. Big boys don’t cry.”
Uh-oh. I just opened up about how cruel my dad was. Yeah, dads back then were such dinosaurs. Relics from bygone days when men spoke rough words to innocent, widdle boys. And the innocent, widdle boys could only hope their moms would hide them from the evil men with rough words.
OK, obviously I’m setting up a biased agenda here. I fully admit it. But here’s the thing most parents (moms AND dads) forget altogether these days. Those innocent, widdle boys (and widdle girls) have something inside that needs bread of Life and Living Water nourishment.
The inner man (and woman)
If you’re a grownup with more than a couple of decades under your life belt, you understand how short that widdle kid time was. Right? Blink of an eye. And when you’re an adult with as many decades under your life belt as I have, you understand how much longer the adult time is.
And it’s STILL like only a few blinks of the eyes.
So, the point I’ll get back to now, is this. It’s crucial to start training widdle kids, from the beginning, how to be the kind of men and women God wants them to be.
Sure, they still need to enjoy being kids. And, with the power of God’s love, you’ll be able to give them plenty of that. But the Big Picture always needs to be focused on their mature development. And the best way to do that is with the wisdom and understanding you give them from the Bible.
Here’s my recommendation for the best place to start
Power yourself up on Paul’s letters first. Because his letters are the only place in the Bible written TO us and TO this time. Plus, his letters illustrate the POWER of God’s LOVE that I emphasize all the time. Namely that this ain’t no oogly, googly love.
No, the love Paul writes about has the POWER to change the eternal course of human souls. It’s the love that can change dead people into live ones. And lost people into found ones. And fear-filled people into more than conquerors.
Plus, it can help your inner man avoid becoming the kind who’s always…
Givin’ up, givin’ in, not a whimper, no shout.
Now the climate is warm, and the fools come out.
Get in touch with yourself and the innermost child…
And the “still small voice” is cast away; exiled.
Take a second and join the growing body of believers who’ve already signed up for the FunderFlash Journal. When you do, I’ll send you links to 2 songs and 2 books that adults AND kids enjoy right away. Then, I’ll send you flashes of light from the faith, hope, and the power of God’s love.
Stay tuned,
