THE HEART OF A MAN

 Christmas is here with us again. This is a time when we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who was born to die for us, His Church, His bride. The reason we celebrate Christmas is because of Easter, when this same Jesus, no longer as a baby in the manger, but a bloodied savior on the cross at mount Moriah dying and bleeding for the beauty He came to rescue, His church.

Just like a woman, there are three core desires in the heart of every man as well. But they are uniquely masculine. For starters, every man wants a battle to fight. Ever wondered why boys love weapons. Our boys wrestle and hit and slam one another up against the walls to the amazement of my wife. That is how they show their affection. Look at the movies men love – Braveheart, Gladiator, and Top Gun.

Men also long for adventure. Boys love to climb and jump and see how fast they can ride their bikes (with no hands). Adventure is a deeply spiritual longing in the heart of every man. Adventure requires something of us, puts us to the test. Though we may fear the test, at the same time yearn to be tested, to discover that we have what it takes.

Finally, every man longs for a beauty to rescue. He really does. Where would Robin Hood be without Marian, or Popeye without … Lonely men fight lonely battles. You see, it’s not just that a man needs a battle to fight. He needs someone to fight for. There is nothing that inspires a man to courage so much as the woman he loves. Most of the daring things young men do are to impress the girls. Men work tirelessly and hard to provide for their women. Men long to offer their strength on behalf of a woman. Even Christ died for His bride, the church.

Now you can see how the desires of a man’s heart and the desires of a woman’s heart were meant to fit in beautifully together. A woman in the presence of a good man, a real man, loves being a woman. His strength allows her feminine heart to flourish. His pursuit draws out her beauty. And a man in the presence of real woman loves being a man. Her beauty arouses him to play the man, it draws out his strength. She inspires him to be a hero.

THE HEART OF A WOMAN

This past valentine, my wife and I together with two other couples, organized a valentine dinner and dance to raise funds for our Church building. It was a stunning affair. For weeks – no, months ahead of the affair – my wife, like every other woman who attended, asked the all important question: “What will I wear?” This brought a bit of “dome” in our home as she had just bought herself two dinner dresses a couple of months back. Another woman as the special night drew closer wondered if it was possible to lose ten Kilos in seven days in order to fit into a lovely dinner dress her hubby had bought her several years back. 

The evening turned out to be glorious. Every detail attended to and lovely, thanks to the Toros and Otiendes. But the highlight by far was the women. Above all the “Tamashas” of that day, above the deco on the hall, above the delicious food and even above the music that floated the air, was the sound of delighted exclamations. “You look beautiful!” “What an amazing dress!” “How lovely you are!”

The ladies were delighting in each other’s beauty and enjoying their own. Indeed I hadn’t seen those ladies look so beautiful apart from their wedding day. 

These women were normal women, working women, housewives, women whose battle against pimples and acne has left their faces marked and their souls scarred. Women whose struggle with their weight after a few childbirths has been the bane of their lives. Ordinary women if there is such a thing. But women who, at least for a few hours this night, took the risk of revealing their beauty. Perhaps better, whose beauty was unveiled.

You see men, deep within the heart of every woman is the cry, 'Am I lovely". They long to unveil their beauty so as to captivate their man. And so the next time she comes from the salon, make it an event in your house and you will be amazed at how delighted she will be.

“The King (Not just God, but you and I men) is enthralled by your beauty.” – Psalm 45:11

NB. Watch this space for next years valentine event. You won't wanna miss it.