The Superbowl commercials have been celebrated for decades. We watch with great expectations. To laugh. To cry. To groan. To cheer. Mini-movies which make us laugh, cry, groan, cheer, fall in love, and of course, want what they’re selling.
And yet, my friends, for years I avoided the commercial breaks. The message many of the ads sold was simply sex. Or rather, men: want these women. Lust after them. This is what you want. This is what will make you happy. A bit of breast. A piece of a$$. We know you only think of one thing. Let’s settle and give you only that.
Let’s forget that you are so much more.
But every day I watch my husband. I see him struggle against this culture which reduces him to one desire. Which forgets that he is a father. Ignores that he is a husband. Neglects that he is a strong, complex, capable, feeling, thinking man.
Every day my husband takes care of our kids. He gets them dressed. Drops them off at school. Works HARD at his business to support them. Takes care of their laundry. Feeds them. Snuggles and tickles and wrestles and plays with them. And every evening, I get the front row seat to him reading their bedtime stories before kissing them goodnight.
This year it seems that people have finally noticed: Our men are so much more.
Men love. Men cry. Men have passion. Men fear. Men hope. Men dream. Men make a difference.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd1qCi5nSKw] [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt1cXw3Gf2A]Thank you, Nissan. Thank you, Dove. Thank you for affirming the men in our lives. The dads who build up our children. The people we love.
If we can all follow in their footsteps. Stop laughing at the mistakes men make. Stop mocking their different styles of parenting. Stop expecting them to be like women.
Start accepting their tears. Start listening to their fears. Start encouraging their hopes and dreams. If we can start supporting them to change a diaper, hold our child, be an active dad – the dad their kids so desperately need. If we can trust them for a night or a weekend alone to experience 24 hours with their kids, what would happen? They might not do it the same… no, they might do it better.
For once they might be built up in who God created them to be. Not a 2 dimensional character in a godaddy commercial, but a strong man who has gifts, talents and abilities. For once they might shine in their expression of love. For once they might be equipped to support their family beyond their finances. For once they might be seen as respectable contributors to the holistic well being of the family.
What would change in your family if you entrusted your husband with your child? What would change in him if he saw you respect him? What would change in your kids? What would change in you?
** I want to make a note to you friends whose husbands have proved themselves to be untrustworthy because of abuse. Please know, this is not for you. My prayers are with you. Bless you.
Great post Leah. Thank you.
Andy and I had just had this exact discussion when you posted this– we totally agree! Not only does our culture fail to recognize a man’s ability to nurture, but at times it regards this nurturing as strange or unwelcome/unmanly. When Andy tries to engage with children who come through the pharmacy as patients, he sometimes gets strange looks like he’s some kind of predator. It disgusts me. He’s just a nice guy who likes kids and can relate to them. And the “idiot dad” ads that are often around are super frustrating too. YES, my husband knows how to cook/clean/dress the kids.