Eishah Smith

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,” Hebrews 10:24 ESV

Gentlemen,
We need you.

We need men, 
a group of men, 
even a small group, who are
strong enough to be honest and vulnerable 
with themselves,
with God,
with each other.

We need men, 
a group of men, 
even a small group, who are
discerning enough to listen to a silent man, 
and understand what he does not, can not say, 
and know what he needs
and know how to help him find it.

We need men, 
a group of men, 
even a small group, who are
wise enough to pray
alone and together 
to intercede for a brother 
and lift him up to heaven 
when he’s surrounded by darkness, 
and keep him lifted up, 
until he can lift himself.

We need men, 
a group of men, 
even a small group, who are
tough enough to fortify a fellow man
through life changes
who don’t let him lose
lose his way, lose face,
lose his grip, lose himself, lose faith
who won’t let him go home empty-handed,
but who will help him put dough in his pocket 
bread in his basket, respect in his chest
so he can stand for himself
to support his family

We need men, 
a group of men, 
even a small group, who are
tight enough to band together
through every success and triumph 
through every mistake and folly
through every betrayal and trial
through every hill and valley,
or whatever life brings and
never give up 
on each other.
Ever.

We need men, 
a group of men, 
even a small group, who are 
steady enough to stand for God 
against all the odds, against all opposition, 
in all temptations, in all jurisdictions. 
who follow their own convictions 
obey their own conscience
let others cower and flee
who call all men to stand as men
even if they disagree
we need variety 

You see, Gentlemen,
Women are not all the same.
Ladies are not all like the ones you’ve met.
We aren’t all here for what we can take.
Some of us can see you.
We see all you’re up against 
We see all you’re trying to do
You haven’t thrown in the towel
When life got hard, you didn’t quit
Haven’t given up on yourselves 
Haven’t given in to your flesh. 
We see you.
We admire you.
We copy you.
We haven’t thrown in the towel, 
Life is hard, but we don’t quit,
Won’t give up, won’t give in
We’re here to help,
to do whatever it takes to make
ends meet, to keep
the family together, to band the house, but…
while we do the best we can
we aren’t house-bands.
While we long to help
there are things we can’t do for you
There are days when 
men need
men.

So, Gentlemen,
We need you.