A Letter to my sons… "Be a Man”

A  Letter to my sons… "Be a Man

Because I love you and want you to reach your full potential I Will always guide you and show you how to be a man.

Every day pray to God to help you to do his will. Embrace his plan for your life. Be virtuous, have self-control and admit when you fail. Accept the challenge to be better each day.

Accept God’s commands with a joyful heart. Especially honor your mother. In doing this you are training yourself to be a faithful and loving husband. Be kind to and protect all women and children.

Many people will tell you lies about being a man. Some will say to be a man means to be cruel, abusive, perverted, greedy and selfish. This is not true. Others will say asking someone to be a man is a socially constructed, old fashioned imposition to make you feel bad about yourself. This is not true.

Always use your manhood and masculinity to defend and advocate beauty, truth and goodness. Be willing to embrace the cross even when you are afraid. Be willing to say, “This is my body given for you”. Pour yourself out in self-sacrificial love for God and for people he puts in your life. When you hear ‘be a man’ think of the Incarnation. When Jesus was told by his Father, ‘be a man’ in humility he obeyed. When you hear ‘be a man’ think of the crucifix. In it you will find courage, mercy, compassion and understanding. 

Never be ashamed to be a man. Your masculinity is a gift from God. In it lies your power and your dignity. Do not let others strip this from you. It is an honor one earns to be a man. Fight not for hatred but for love.To be a man is to fight a daily battle. Mostly it is a battle within. 

Love Dad.