All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established….Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil….Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. ~Proverbs 16: 2-3, 5-6, 8

Do you ever look around and wonder where the good men are? The real men? Men who will stand up for what they know is right, men of conviction and courage and moral integrity who are willing to be the defense of those who can’t stand up and fight?

I do. I look around and wonder. And then wonder how I was so fortunate.

Because God gave me a good husband. A kind husband. A gentle husband. A hard working husband. A highly-imperfect husband who loves Jesus and wants to help his highly-imperfect wife love Jesus more.

And then I look beyond my own good husband, and I see my father and my father-in-law, and I’m even more thankful. And then I look at so many of the men I am blessed to have as neighbors, good men who do good for their families and communities.

True strength isn’t measured by toughness or macho-ness or muscular strength. There are too many manipulative, lying, aggressive, unkind, selfish men out there masquerading as men of strength and courage. Men who won’t step in for the helpless. Who will use their physical strength to bully and intimidate. Who use fear to get what they want. Men who are too cowardly to put a stop to wrongdoing.

Women, if you have a good man, hold him tight. Don’t take him for granted. Not everyone is as fortunate.

Dote on him. Be there for him. Love him passionately. He isn’t perfect, but the imaginary husband you’re comparing him to is insufferable. Love him with his imperfections. Don’t let a day go by without thanking God for him. Without telling him you love him. That you’re proud to be his. That he’s your hero and your best friend and the only one for you.

Life is short. Marriage is hard. But with a good man at your side? It is amazing what God can do with two imperfect people joined together for life.