It is alright to cry

My friend John and I were talking, because he came home all angry and ready to call it quits with trust and hope. John has a grandson that is 34, to me his grandson always seemed like a nice young man. He has a loving wife and son, so one would think that John would be a real happy man. Sadly, he is not. He usually keeps his emotions inside, never lets anyone know that he has anything negative in his life. Well today I saw his anger and pain. It seems that John’s family lives on a short drive from his home. John’s wife has been dead for over a year and when she passed away his grandson came to him and offered his help in cleaning out his grandmother’s things. To make it easy on John, of course. Not for gain or pay. John accepted and the pillaging began. John’s wife had many pretty things, jewelery, and choskies. Christmas decorations as well as dishes and such. John said that no one asked him, but his family began to take things that belonged to her, leaving on her photographs that were hidden away. According to John he finally spoke up when they started to rummage in his garage and hall away his tools. Wherein his grandson said, they are only material things and who would you want to take them, family is more important than things. John accepted this and now it has been a year later and he says the only time the family comes to visit is when they want something; they need money or simply remember he had something that they want. I said to John that he needed to learn to say no, no son that belongs to me and when I pass away you can come and get it. Surly you can wait a year or two. John turned to me, wiping his eyes that had turned a purplish blue, sad and lonely eyes devoid of hopes and dreams. I took him in my arms to hold him tight, who says that strong men don’t need to cry?

Abuse comes in many forms. Some abuse by hitting, some by yelling and screaming, some by being critical, some by never saying a kind word or words of love and appreciation. Some people believe that strong men should never show fear, pain, heartbreak, or any other the other “girly emotions." While it may not be in vogue for men to show emotion for fear of appearing weak, it is a fact that people live much longer who look that fear in the face and admit that they have emotions and let those emotions show. Not to say I can seek the companionship of a man that is more or less a drama queen, but I have no problems with a person that is only human. Why is it that some women think they have the corner on emotions, they can say what they want when to want to whomever they want without looking like a real witch, but little boys and men must be stoic and defend a woman’s right? Some women say that they are not criticizing, they are only being sarcastic. Where is the line between angry accusations and sarcasm?