Understanding the Purpose and Power of Men

What Is a Real Man?

Life was straightforward and so, in that sense, relationships were less complicated.

Interdependence Created a Natural Appreciation

This partnership in survival produced an interdepen dence between men and women that generated a mutual ap preciation. Because they both worked so hard and did their individual parts, they respected one another. It was a natu ral appreciation. It was natural because their roles were very clear and were accepted as necessary and important. In many of these marriages, there wasn‘t the kind of r e lationship between husband and wife that we know today. The man was motivated by simple things: food, sex, children, and security. He was not motivated by conversation and sen timental exchange, by emotional and psychological sensitivi ty. He came home when he wanted to meet basic needs. For the most part, a man was honored and loved by his wife not because he was a good man or an affectionate companion, but because she knew he risked his life to take care of her and the children. She loved him because of what he did for her. He didn‘t earn her honor and appreciation because he was a sentimental, romantic guy. She valued his provision. If he didn‘t brave the elements and come back with fresh meat, she wouldn‘t respect him. The woman spent time nurturing the children and creat ing a home, and she was respected and loved by the man for her contribution to the family. He didn‘t necessarily honor her because she was charming or because ―the Word of God says to do so.‖ He honored her because she bore his children and because he knew the value of the work that she was doing. He didn‘t worry about who was going to feed and clean the children or who was going to wash their clothing. His wife did all that, and he respected her for it. This means that romance was not a significant part of the lives of many of our early forefathers. They were too busy trying to survive. When you‘re in survival mode, ther e isn‘t much time for sentiment. Survival mode didn’t leave time for romance.

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