Weakness

Being a pretty big Lord of the Rings fan, let me begin with a quote from Gandalf (at this point he is Gandalf the White), "I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil."

As a guy, I know tears and crying are not manly words and definitely not actions. However, I think a lot can be said about a man who is able to cry at times and that ability says a lot, too! As a guy, I know I feel a lot of pressure to be strong and not show too much emotion. And while this is true and necessary, I think it can go way too far! As men, we do need to be strong, but strength doesn't mean you don't have any weaknesses. This is a beautiful passage that illustrates this point.

     "Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
     Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
     But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
     That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
-II Corinthians 12:7b-10

Now I don't know about you, but that seems like a pretty big statement Paul makes. He is boasting because of his pain. I don't think I can quite say that confidently yet, but here is the beautiful part of it all. Scripture is full of accounts where people just pour out their heart to God. And the really cool part is God doesn't just listen, He cares and even welcomes people to do this. Countless Psalms are just David pouring his heart out to God and pleading with Him. What a beautiful thing!

So, don't feel like you have to keep all your emotions to yourself. If you don't have someone you trust yet, you can always go to God!

And with that, please enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAifRGI1Fxs

Making pens and making a difference!
Daniel Patrick

www.facebook.com/PatrickCustomPens
www.stellasvoice.org