Community Forum

In 2016, a father of three lost his job at a major telecom company. His wife mocked him, saying, “So, the provider has become a beggar.” While his male friends contributed food, school fees, and even helped him start a new business, his wife filed for separation. That man later testified: “I found more comfort and kindness in fellow men than in the woman I married.” When men go through tough times, they often extend kindness to others because they deeply understand pain without expressing it. Society rarely gives men permission to cry or seek pity, so they develop empathy in silence. Proverbs 17:17 (KJV) says, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” In adversity, men bond and support one another with quiet strength. Women, on the other hand, may sometimes misinterpret a man's struggle as weakness, especially if societal expectations for provision aren’t being met. An African adage says, “When the drum breaks, only the drummer knows the ache in his heart.” This is not a condemnation, but a call for empathy. Galatians 6:2 (KJV) reminds us, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Let love—not pride—lead, in all seasons.