Things A Man Should Be Able To Do...

Before I dive in to the list of things I think a man should be able to do, I want to let you in on the premise.  I am adamant in my disdain for excuses in life.  I believe that we have all been dealt a hand and it is our job to play the hand that has been dealt.  That being said, I want you to know that the hand that I was dealt growing up was essentially devoid of day to day interaction with positive male role models.  Great women, bad men.  My father, who I am named after, was nonexistent and is currently incarcerated in Alabama, hopefully for a long time.  I am 35 and I have never seen the man.  In fact, I was a married man in my late twenties the first time I sincerely used the term "dad" and I only used it once.  Again, these are not excuses.  It may sound crazy, but I would not have it any other way.  First of all, it's done and I cannot have it any other way.  Secondly, it is the only way I ever knew.  That is the mix of life's elements, the cards dealt, that made me.  

Going through it, I never fully realized the impact that this had on me.  Now, fortunately for me, over time the holes were eventually filled in with great men (a wonderful stepfather, church leaders, and dear friends) and I was able to learn from them what little I know about being a good man.  Even now, I find myself gleaning bits and pieces of things that make a good man as I witness examples around me.  Standing where I am now as a novice husband and father, I have in my mind a picture of the man I want to be.  And that picture is formed by skills a man should have.  Thus the list:
   
Do a pull-up
Bowl a strike
Climb up a rope
Sharpen a knife
Build something made of wood that lasts
Evolve
Say sorry
Chop wood
Change oil
Fly fish and gut what you catch
Quote Tombstone
Say "I love you"
Prune a tree
Tie a fishing hook
Shoot a gun, and hit what you aim at
Defend his God, his family, and his home
Know when to hold 'em, and know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away, and know when to run
List 10 books that changed his life
Clear the ladies' tees
Testify of truth to anyone that will listen, especially his own family
Write a love letter
Clean up puke
Debate who's the greatest NFL quarterback ever
Say what needs to be said
Balance a checkbook
Correctly spell homonyms like to, two, and too
Go to bed mad
Answer at least 5 questions per Jeopardy episode
Recite word for word at least 3 old school hip hop classics
Jump start a car
Throw a spiral
Sleep anywhere
Recite the Articles of Faith
Hold a current temple recommend
Use a plumb bob
Vote his conscience
Speak his mind
Hold his tongue
Answer the call whenever it comes
Hit a baseball
Shoot 70% from the line
Give a eulogy
Order a salad
Inspire the rising generation
Make a hole in one in miniature golf
Talk your way out of a fight
Know CPR
Look the other way (see 2 Samuel 11:2)
Run like Joseph (see Genesis 39:12)



Take it or leave it, but that is my list.  It is my archetype for what I want to be and what I will try to instill in my boy.  Now, the list is a glimpse and it is not designed to be all-inclusive.  In fact, I am eager to see the contributions of others to this list.  I also want to note that I cannot do everything on this list and that is why I am hoping that God gives me time.  Time to use to become a good man.