I am so Blessed

I am incredibly blessed. I was going to blog about this yesterday, and I forgot, but I want to blog about it now...even though I need to be reading a 60 page paper to summarize for tomorrow. I also just got off the phone and received some disappointing news, and I feel like I need to be reminded of how blessed I am.

The reason that I realized yesterday that I am blessed is because of something we discussed in my relationships in today's families class. We were talking about gender roles, and the professor was talking about how women complain that men don't share their feelings and how they just want them to be more open with their emotions, but that when they are we freak out and wonder what's wrong with them. I realized that I was blessed because of two things.

One is that God has given me male friends who aren't afraid to cry in front of me and other women. They are open, and they aren't ashamed of who they are. I have seen so many of my male friends cry, and when I see it I literally rejoice in my heart because of how soft their hearts are. It takes a strong man (or woman for that matter) to have that soft a heart. Tears require a softness of heart that speaks volumes. And it warms my heart to know that so many of the men who surround me on a daily basis have soft hearts.

The second way I realized that I am blessed is because I do respond to men crying in the way that I do. Yes, I want, even expect, men to be strong, but I realized how blessed I am that God has given me the ability to respond to men crying in the way that I am. I don't think it's weird when men cry. I think it is refreshing. I don't expect men to be strong all the time. They are human too, and they shouldn't have that kind of pressure put on them. The street goes both ways. Sometimes women need to be strong for the men in their lives.

I am reminded of Jesus' death. There at the end of his life...in the most painful moments...all of his friends who were there (with the exception of John) were female. Those women were strong on his behalf...trust me, it takes incredible strength to watch your son, your firstborn, die on a cross like a common criminal.

I'm not sure if any of this is making sense, but there you have it.

Anyway...I am also reminded of several other ways that I am blessed. I have an amazing job. I have a super supportive family. I have the best friends anyone could wish for. And I have God who loves me, cares for me, provides for me, and has an amazing plan for my life.

I read Romans 12 again today in preparation for Bible Study, and it totally kicked my butt, so expect a blog about that soon...until then...peace out yo!

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