…our love and obligation to our family.

Yes, “Obligation”
by Rich Clingman (06/17/01)

I’m going to make a guess here…

If you are a woman, you probably feel I should have said,
“… our love and commitment to our family.”
Right?

And not every male will understand true “obligation”, but every man will.

We males often perceive “love” and “commitment” as “emotions”—“emotions” can be fleeting. We men cannot sustain relationships on an “emotional” level, for our emotions cannot be sustained. Many men truly “commit” on their wedding day, only to find they “un-commit” when things get difficult, leading to emotional or physical separation, or the ultimate “un-commitment”—divorce. “Obligation” is not a term every male will understand, but every man will.

DO NOT confuse true “obligation” with insincerity or a lack of caring.

·       True “obligation” is not a boy’s whiny
       I’ll do it if I have to,
rather, it is a man’s sincere
       I have to, so I’ll do it—and do it right!

· True “obligation” can keep us men moving on the right path even when “love” or “commitment” falter.

· True “obligation” to our family is displayed in showing love even when we may not feel love.

· True “obligation” is listening—and we men never “feel” like listening.

· True “obligation” is bringing our wives a flower, a smile, and a kiss—and not “just to get some”, but because we have an obligation to brighten her day.

· True “obligation” is true love and commitment—in action!

There is more that separates a “boy” from a “man” than 18 years of life. There are many 16-year-old “men”, and far too many 40-year-old “boys”. “Men” understand that when they made their wedding “commitment” and pledged their “love”, that they “obligated” themselves to sustain the acts of love, even with the feelings of love may falter—even when their “commitment” may seemed to have vanished.

True “obligation”—demonstrated through acts of “love” and “commitment”—is a key factor separating “men” from “boys”, and, as we act out our love, the feeling often returns.

This article is from Living For Today, Preparing For Tomorrow. From Parents. To Parents. A Parent's Guide to Living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

This book is dedicated to the parents and guardians who battle against their worries, who must prepare for tomorrow and yet grab hold of today, striving to make today the best day for their children and family.

"Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own." MATTHEW 6:34 NIV

This article may be freely copied and distributed by print or email provided it is copied and distributed in its entirety (including this Dedication & Copyright notice) and is distributed at no cost. Any other use (including publishing on the web) is prohibited without prior written authorization.

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Yes, “Obligation” by Rich Clingman (06/17/01)

Yes, “Obligation”
by Rich Clingman (06/17/01)