It was one of those moments every guy fears. I tried my best to twist off
the cap on a bottle of limeade. I tried drying my hand. I tried using my
shirt. It was all to no avail. Just before heading for the garage to get a
pair of wide-mouthed pliers my sister, my almost ten years older sister,
picked up the bottle and took off the cap. My manhood was crushed. I'm sure
she is still laughing.

So what is it that defines manhood? Might I rescue my ego by describing
manhood as something much greater than a physical act of strength? Many
self-help books regarding this topic fill library shelves, but the most
interesting is found in Ephesians 5. In verse 25 Paul challenges us.
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave
Himself for her." I cannot imagine raising the bar any higher than that.
Real men know their highest calling is to provide a safe, nurturing
environment for their families.

The actual details of gender roles and family relations differ from culture
to culture and family to family. It really isn't nearly as important who
vacuums and who mows the lawn as is the atmosphere of mutual trust and
teamwork. The important thing is that each person knows they are loved and
respected for what talent they bring to the home. Modern families are
challenged to find adequate time to foster interpersonal growth. We are so
very busy in this twenty-first century and I sometimes hear people try to
justify their busyness by saying while they can't have large quantities of
time they at least have quality time. My only response is absence does not
make the heart grow fonder. That is an old wives' tale.