Article June 12, 2017 Issue

The mothering qualities of true fatherhood

Kevin Graunke

I was blessed by my relationship with my dad, who was a soft-spoken, spiritually minded man—a man of solid integrity yet with gentle ways. I’ve been equally blessed by having male friends whom I regard as mentors, brothers—guys who illustrate what it truly means to be heroes and strong men—who are also nurturers and gentle-men. And as a dad myself (and now a granddad), I continue to discover that some of the most essential spiritual qualities needed in that role are qualities we often assign exclusively to motherhood.

What does that mean? As I’ve read and prayed with the Bible’s narrative of creation in the first chapter of Genesis, I’ve come to realize that all of us, individually and collectively, are the complete children of one loving Father-Mother God. Our true origin is spiritual, not physical; God did not create mortal men and women, each with only male or female qualities. We are the spiritual image and likeness of God, created with masculine and feminine qualities combined in perfect unity—not categorically assigned by human gender. God and His family—you and I—are inseparable, as the perfect original and full, flawless spiritual reflection.

As we realize this fact more deeply, we’re able to defeat stereotypes that would limit our understanding of true manhood. What are the images of men often portrayed in films, TV, and social media today? They’re powerful, maybe even ruthless (as superheroes), or clumsy, insensitive, and self-absorbed (in sitcoms). This can make for exciting and amusing entertainment, but we shouldn’t let such stereotypes become our model for manhood.

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