When Men Use Their Superpower, They Bring Healing to the World

Gentle strength is a magic balm that soothes hurt fingers and hearts

“Being a hero doesn’t mean you’re invincible. It just means that you’re brave enough to stand up and do what’s needed.”— Rick Riordan

Every good dad wants to be his little girl’s hero. A husband wants to be his wife’s hero. The biggest, toughest guy can turn into melted butter when his heart is touched, and it’s an amazing thing to see.

Men often keep their hearts behind a wall. They’ve been told all their lives to be strong and that strength is shown by revealing no emotion but displaying their physical strength.

For the most part, men are physically stronger than women. A man may be able to lift a hundred pounds onto his shoulders. When that man softly rocks a child to sleep or brushes their tears away, that’s gentle strength.

When he offers his arm to a woman or holds an umbrella over her in the rain, that’s gentle strength. When he picks up an elderly neighbor’s or relative’s trash and hauls it off or chops a pile of firewood for them, that’s gentle strength.

When the same arms that can bench-press 200 pounds can wrap around another person in a loving embrace, that’s gentle strength.

Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength. — St Francis de Sales

But not all strength is physical.

Having strength of character is realizing you don’t have it all together and being able to admit it. It’s showing humility and being willing to learn from someone who knows more than you. It’s being vulnerable enough to open up about your insecurities and fears, and the things that keep you awake at night.

It’s being honest with people even when it doesn’t benefit you to do so.

A man with integrity is the strongest man there is because he chooses to do what is morally and ethically right even when no one is watching him.

He’s not perfect. He has bad days, days that he feels the weight of the world on his shoulders. It’s not always easy to do the right thing.

He tries his hardest to create a good reputation and live up to it in his personal life, in his business, and when he’s at the local pizza place. And you know what?

People see that.

In a world full of people who take the easy way out, who cheat themselves and ignore their conscience to get ahead, a man who is strong in his convictions stands head and shoulders above the crowd.

Do you know how rare a gentle man is? He’s like a Hope Diamond, and his value exceeds it a hundredfold.

Why?

A man who knows the importance of gentleness can be a bridge to healing.

He can instill confidence and hope. He is a place of safety and protection. He is a healthy influence in a society of unhealthy relationships. He leads by example.

Those are qualities that this world needs. People are hurting, broken, distrustful, and afraid. They are desperate for love and acceptance that they were made to feel they weren’t worthy of.

Women can heal hurts too, but there is a special ability given to men who reach out with gentleness to others. It is a gift from God. I don’t think most men realize how powerful they can be without lifting a single pound.

Don’t be afraid to embrace your superpower, men.

We need more heroes like you.

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