It Takes a Real Man to Cry – Tears of Mourning
Real men don’t cry.
bs
I tell you, it is harder to grieve so deeply, mournfully, and respectfully, in tears, than to “suck it up” and just turn your mind away.
For me–and for many guys–the latter is easy. Maybe because it’s a mentality so built into society that it’s become built into us. Maybe it’s because most guys tend to be wired this to begin with. Maybe it’s just me.
I can turn my mind away and focus on other things at hand. Compartmentalization, some call it.
It’s easy. And given the choice, who’d want to be a pathetic sob all the time?
But to occasionally walk through the pain in memory of a loved one, to honour them and remember them, to cherish them and keep them close at heart, it is the least we can do.
Whether it’s someone who’s gone or someone who’s still facing hardship, they deserve that place in our hearts and that attention in our prayers. If a tear is then shed in the deepest of sorrows, it is a natural outflow and expression of love. Why stem that? How cold it would be, to harden and forget.
It takes a strong man to mourn without turning away. And doubly so, against the grain of society.
Maybe the women need a different message. But men, hear this one.
December 8th, 2008 at 1:12 am
It takes a real man to cry