Be a man.

A few years ago, I prayed for God to show me my mission in life. He clearly told me, "Be a man." So, I set out to be the best man for God I could be.

First, I needed to figure out what that meant. As a kid, I had some different ideas:

• When I turn 18? No, that just makes me a legal adult in the United States. It means I am responsible for my own actions in society.
• When I have sex? No, that just means that I'm physically intimate with a woman. Pleasant, scary, but ultimately meaningless.
• Getting my own place? Driving? Paying bills? Not really.

So, since God was the one giving me this mission, I figured I'd better ask him. I had already accepted my roles in life as a husband and father, so that was my focus.

About being a husband, God says, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (Ephesians 5:25). Jesus' love for the church is a sacrificial love. He gave everything for His people. About being a dad, God says, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4). A dad needs to be an effective leader for his kids. Teach them right. Bring them up to be the best they can be.

So here I am: A man, a husband, a father. I give myself to my family to lead, care for, and protect the best I can.