In her article, “Masculine Dads Raise Confident Daughters” (WSJ-7/21/18), Ms. Shrier said, “My father never let me get away with self-pity, never allowed me to win an argument with tears and never hid that he had high expectations of me. He admired smarts less than grit, found surface beauty less enchanting than charm. The woman he admired most was our mother. … His example has been on my mind these days with all this talk about ‘toxic masculinity’ and the proper ways to raise boys so that they don’t become sexual predators.”
She went on to say, “Femininity and masculinity are manners of comportment and modi operandi; they are not codes of conduct. Men have used masculinity for acts of heroism and decency. That they have also applied it to despicable behavior says nothing of masculinity itself. My father’s own unapologetic masculinity made us feel secure.” Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘femininity’ as: having qualities regarded as characteristic of women and girls, as gentleness, delicacy, modesty, etc. And ‘masculinity’ as: having qualities regarded as characteristic of men and boys, as strength, vigor, boldness, etc.
Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: May the Lord do what is good in His sight – 2 Samuel 10:12. These were the words of Joab to his brother, Abishai, when he saw the Ammonites and Arameans had drawn battle lines both in front of and behind him. Today, men are under attack on one side by a culture that suggests everything masculine is bad. On the other side are men exhibiting despicable behavior under the guise of masculinity. Both are to be defeated just as Israel defeated the Ammonites and Arameans. It is time for dads to respond to Joab’s charge, to be of good courage and play the men, to stand firm in this battle for the sake of our daughters, families, churches and communities.
Ms. Shrier wraps up the article with, “We spend so much time obsessing over inequalities in society. But there is arguably no inequality more unjust or difficult to overcome than that of parentage. We don’t get the parents we deserve, and those of us blessed with good ones would not trade them for any other unearned privilege. If you want to protect girls, find them good parents, or become them. Dads, whatever you are doing for daughters – double it.” That is a good word to dads – Double your efforts with daughters and sons to be the father they need. “Play the Man” for the family you have been blessed with.
Prayer guide: Lord, thank You for the blessing of You in my life. Thank You for the example You provided in this world and throughout Your Word of what a masculine man looks like. You know how men can take what was designed for good and use it for evil. Forgive us. Masculinity is the perfect complement to femininity as per Your design for men and women. Grant me strength to walk boldly in Your design for me to be the husband my bride needs and the father my children need. Help me “Play the man” for the family You have blessed me with. Amen.
A faithful father is unapologetically masculine as he “plays the man” for his family.
