Recently I blogged about the billboard stating, “real men love babies.” I realized I might not understand the motive if I didn’t research the billboard. It is sponsored by prolifeacrossamerica.org. The information stated this campaign focuses on a father’s role. It also noted, “it is for expecting fathers, including facts about pre-born baby’s development, such as heartbeat 18 days from conception.” The billboard photos are of several fathers and their babies.

This is an excellent campaign. However, we all understand fatherhood and parenthood for both mothers and fathers extends beyond infancy. There is nothing in the world like holding and gazing upon your newborn child, whether biological or adopted, parenthood is a gift.

There should also be a campaign for those fathers that choose a career above their family. What if a billboard showed a mother and children dining, attending school and/or sports events, taking the children to appointments-alone? The father was working late each night or traveling. He was too busy making money and climbing the ladder of success to be involved with his family. Perhaps such a campaign for parenting should also state, “real fathers place the desires of their family above their own.”

What if that campaign also displayed the heartache of the wife that was left alone to take care of the home and family responsibilities while the father was “living the high life?” What if the “real” story was that “real men love babies and God?”  For there is no way any man that truly loves God does not love his wife and family. Real men choose to allow God to be the leader of his life, family and home. Occasionally, this can be stated of the mother, but statistics cite that the majority of parents choosing career over their family is the father. 

Recently, I was conversing with a family member about the cost of choosing career over  family.  I was gratified to know a young person desired a family over “things.” Whereas, those individuals that choose a career appear to “have it all” to the world. Do they really?

I have known real men and they never chased their own dreams or goals. They were there when there was a family need. Whether it was their wife needing assistance around the house or their children needing a helping hand with a school or sports project, they were there.

As I’m currently studying Titus 2, it is a reminder of how “real men and women” live their lives. NIV Titus 2: 1-3“ You however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live…not to be slanderers…,but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children…so that no one will malign the word of God.

Do we choose to be “real” to God or to the world?