Toxic Masculinity, Trading Up and a Visit with Lauren Gaskill

Hey y’all, let’s chat…Just a few things here off the top of my head, in no particular order…Have you heard the latest? Experts (term used lightly) are claiming that traditional masculinity harms the development of young boys and society as a whole. They call this theory “toxic masculinity.” I call it ignorance gone to seed. Soon as I heard about it, I threw a big beautiful picture of my hardworking beloved farmer up on social media and went on record with three succinct points of my own. 1) Hogwash, 2) Let’s hear it for the boys, and 3) traditional masculinity is way good at killing spiders.  Hey, I’m just one woman, but I do what I can.

In other news, the plumbing people at Kohler are advertising their new “intelligent toilet”.  You can now get a potty with built-in surround sound, ambient mood-lighting, a heated seat—and wait for it—Amazon Alexa controls. Help me understand.  How long do you plan to be in there? And what, pray tell, do you need to say to Alexa while you’re doing business? I’m trying to work with y’all, but I got nothing. I mean, I reckon you could order toilet tissue if the last person forgot to replace the roll, but you’re still gonna have to go outside to meet the drone with your pants down, right? I admit to being confused by all of this, but apparently, I fall in the category of folks who aren’t looking for, and I’m quoting here, “a customized bathroom experience.”

I polled my girlfriends on the development, and we think mood setting toilets might be a man thing. They have high expectations for this area of the homestead. Take my brother-in-law. You can’t really have him, because my darling sister adores him, and he’s a keeper, but the other morning Gene asked Rhonda to please not buy any more of the toilet brand that was currently in their master bathroom. Nana told her man she was sorry, and that she didn’t realize he had such a sensitive backside. Did I mention that Gene also has a great sense of humor? His response was, “If your butt had been chewed out as much as mine, it’d be sensitive, too.”

On the count of three, bless his heart.

Hang tight, y’all. I’ll be right back with author and speaker, Lauren Gaskill. You can hear this entire podcast including the interview on iTunes (please subscribe while you’re there!) or through the audio link here and at the bottom of this post. To win order Lauren’s book, Into the Deep, here. To enter a giveaway for the book, follow Lauren and me on Facebook and Instagram, and leave a comment asking to enter. That’s it! Lauren will notify the winner.

I hope y’all have enjoyed the visit. Let’s open the word together before we go. In John 10:10 Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that you might have life and have it more abundantly!”

Friends, Jesus didn’t come to help us juggle our junk. He lived, died, and lives again to walk us out of it. He wants to rid us of what rules us, heal us of what hinders us, teach us what we don’t know and lead us into a life we can’t see.

Our choice is to give up what pulls us down and get more of what lifts us up.

Give up resentment for peace, bitterness for reconciliation, and soul stealing addictions for a life- giving Savior. Give up working for man’s approving nod to live in God’s favor. And, Father help us brace our go-faster crash-harder selves for this last one: May we give up some shut eye for more sacred Facetime.

That’s it for this week folks. If you’re enjoying the podcast, would you be so kind as to give it a review and share it with your friends and family? Many THX!  Until next time, may the Good Lord bless you and keep you, make His face to shine upon you, and give you peace. This is Shellie with hugs for all~

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