“Strong Men Shed Tears”

I have always been taught to “be a man and don’t cry!”  Because of that training I have chastised my son when he has cried to “stop crying.”   I do however think it is hilarious when parents tell kids to stop crying in the midst of getting a whooping. (Yes for those of who do timeout there are still parents who whoop their kids)

After seeing the emotions of Vernon Davis on this past Sunday I realized that there are men who are strong enough to shed tears.  Vernon Davis is a veteran Tight End for the Washington Redskins.  His grandfather passed away the day before the game and after he scored a touchdown he was in tears walking to the sidelines.  His teammates were consoling him and you could tell the impact that his touchdown had on him because he dedicated the touchdown to his grandfather.

It takes a lot for me to cry.  I am not one who cries when I am happy but when tears do come they come from the tears of others or when I am overwhelmed by something.  I remember the first time I cried in sports.  I went two years of organized sports before I lost my first game.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  I was in the outfield and the other team hit the ball and it went past me and they scored and won the game.  I plopped down on the grass and cried like I just lost $1,000.   Many of us cried and our parents had to come and console us.  

I have cried during funeral services, the burden of pastoring and the frustration of life.  I used to think that crying was weak but now that I am older I know that crying and emotions are a part of life.  I think there should be balance with male and female.  We shouldn’t cry at the drop of a hat but like Jesus there should be some things that we endure that incites a good cry.  Scripture said that Jesus wept.  Jesus had compassion and emotions just like humans and He is the strongest man I know.  

Crying can be therapeutic and a great emotional release.  It should be a “whoosa” moment to “get it out and move forward!”  

The fact that strong men can cry is a testament that no matter what profession you are in there should be some emotion in you that shows compassion, care and comfort.

Strong men are in tune with how to be there emotionally for their families.  We should show them that when we are weak, God’s strength is in us.  

So, as I end this blog I am not saying that if I see a man standing on the corner or in the grocery aisle balling tears that I won’t have concern.   I am saying that I will be more understanding because I don’t know what they are going through or have been through to invoke tears.  I will learn myself that it is ok to shed tears and it is ok to show emotions because if I follow Jesus, He is the ultimate example.

Michael O. Oyedokun II