Since my last posting, I have talked to over one hundred men and 90% of them feel that there is not enough support or appreciation for the role men play in work, family, and community. Men seem to feel that the pressure and expectations placed on them in today’s world is not valued. When I asked the men what would change their negative perceptions, fifty percent said, “a kind word on a more consistent basis;” 30 percent said, “would be nice to have an encouraging word”, 15 percent said, “if more people would say, “thank you;” and 5 percent said, “give me a pat on the back once in a while.”
These remarks brought to mind two books I have been reading, “WORDS TO SAY THANK YOU” by Sarah Hogget, and “THE ART OF ENCOURAGEMENT” by Candy Paul. In Hogget’s book, a quote by Mother Teresa of Calcutta stands out, “KIND WORDS CAN BE SHORT AND EASY TO SPEAK BUT THEIR ECHOES ARE THRULY ENDLESS.” Candy Paul highlights two noteworthy axioms that I would like to share with you, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another”-Proverbs 27:17 (NIV); “One lighted torch serves to light another”-Frederick Godet.
“Pray for each other because in the end, we are all that we have; one man to lift another and one friend to give a hand"-©Martel A. Perry-September 2009
No comments:
Post a Comment