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men in our culture are not taught to be kind. i’ve come to the conclusion that kindness is not a virtue that is affirmed in men…especially young men. this really concerns me.
in scripture, kindness is a not a single word…and it is a characteristic with multiple definitions. it means mild and pleasant…as opposed to harsh, critical or bitter. it means loving and benevolent. it means gentleness. it means agreeable, joyful and happy. it means tenderness and genuine concern for others.
kindness is an attribute of god and quality desirable, but not consistently found in humans. yet…in a study of 37 cultures around the world, sixteen thousand subjects were asked about their most desired traits in a mate. for both sexes, the number one preference was kindness!
color me surprised.
men in our culture have a different set of values: strong, opinionated, powerful, competitive, aloof, non-emotional, driven, tough, thick-skinned, blunt, hunter-gatherer, provider, risk-taker.
young men and boys have characters that are being shaped more by pg-13 teen sex and drinking movies, beer commercials, aggressive video game personalities, and media stars…than kind men in their lives.
it’s just the way it is. so what are you planning to do about it?
Do not let kindness and truth leave you. Bind them around your neck and write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3 What is desirable in a man is his kindness, and it is better to be a poor man than a liar. Proverbs 19:22
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