Lord, Make Me A Man

To the memory of fathers whose lives are a finished work; and in loving reverence of all Dads living on this year’s Father’s Day, I’d like to share a poem I penned a few years ago which perhaps reflects the deepest desire of every godly father’s heart:

Lord, make me a man; 
A man not of muscle and brawn,
But a man of purpose and will,
A man whose face is like flint
To do your most holy will.
 
Lord, make me a man;
Not a man of stone nor of steel,
But a man of wisdom, and grace and love,
A man who will labor and pray and serve
To please His Master above.
 
Lord, make me a man,
Not a man of selfish pride and power,
But a man serene and humble and strong;
A man who will know that he’s only a man
As God helps him daily along.
 
Lord, make me a man,
Not a man who breeds fear,
But a man who is tender and cares,
A man who his wife and children respect,
As a man who unselfishly shares.
 
Lord, make me a man
Not a man independent,
But a man who will pray, trust and wait;
A man who will weep, laugh and love,    
Who will share with his family his fate.
 
Lord, make me a man,
Not a man without care,
But a man of the Book who will live by your Word;
 A man who will order his life by your truth,
Who will take it to heart when preaching is heard.
 
Lord, make me a man,
Not a man who is gruff;
Not a man who us known as outwardly tough;
But a man who will suffer, will hurt and will cry,
When a brother is broken and ready to die.
 
Lord, make me a man
Not a man who can’t feel, 
Not a man who won’t suffer in woe,
But a man who can stoop to lift up another,
A man who will carry the load of a brother.
 
Lord, make me a man
Not a man who’s self-made,
Not a man who is haughty, high-minded and proud;
But a man who will live with his head on straight,
A man’s whose life is a message that’s loud.
 
And,
 
Lord, make me a man,
Not a man of large boasting;
Not a man whose story is all about me;
But a man who will glorify God,
A man whose time spent here is all about Thee.

Anthony Slutz, 2014

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