I recently learned about an asshole. Specifically, I learned about a guy who is mentally and verbally abusing his wife and kids – who happen to be my friends. When I heard of his ridiculous and completely unacceptable behavior, I felt heartbroken for the family. I’ll be honest – I wasn’t angry about the asshole. I was just sad for my friends.
After a few hours of feeling suspended in heartbreak, my brain turned from thoughts of disappointment to an entirely different arena: Good Men.
I know a lot of good men. I happen to be married to one. And so many of my friends are such decent husbands and fathers. I know men who would help us at 3 in the morning, if we needed them. That’s amazing, friends, knowing we have support like that in the world. It’s wonderful. And it should be the norm. Hearing it isn’t just ain’t right. And make no mistake – this asshole isn’t a man. He’s so much less than a man. Real men don’t bully women and children. Period.
I’ll keep praying for my friends, as that may be the very most I can do. (Perhaps I should pray for the asshole, but I’m not gonna.) And tonight I plan to raise my glass to the good men of the world. They deserve a little attention and a hell of a lot of respect. For they are – in every sense of the word – men. And I for one am grateful to know a few of them.