If women are spaghetti...

The other day an interesting discussion was sparked among the teens in our family as we discussed the difference between girls and boys. My sister Emily and I were prodding our very neutral and un-expressive 14 year old brother to open up and explain to us what he was feeling inside; since nearly every question in regards to his feelings is answered with “maybe… I don’t know… I guess” and it never ceases to aggravate those of the opposite sex.


Just what is it that men are keeping bottled up in their systems? And why ever don’t they explain themselves and tell us what they’re thinking and feeling? My sister and I were eager to know just how men and women feel things differently, but maybe we’ll never really know. My brother, however, did proceed (after much prodding and teasing) to give his opinion on the difference between the way men and women show emotions; in an effort to prove that men really do have them.


Instead of waffles and spaghetti, think of men and women as glass boxes. A woman’s box is clear and you can see all the many complicated and emotional objects inside. (According to my brother, there is no spot or blemish anywhere; every content of her box is open and displayed for everyone to see.) A man’s box, however, is clouded over instead of clear; we can’t see inside to know how many objects there are, of if it contains any at all. We are told with great insistence that there are contents in the box; we just aren’t allowed to know what they are.


Quite the philosophical puzzle, isn’t it? Men and women are totally different and unique creatures. As hard as we try, we will never quite be able to understand our different motives, drives, passions, and yes; emotions. Not to scorn one sex and elevate the other; for we are all equal in God’s sight.


Now, despite the truth that women’s boxes tend to be much more clear than men’s, we all have thoughts and feelings and heart issues that we hide away deep within that others do cannot see. A truth that may be startling to realize, though, is that no matter how hard we try, male or female, we cannot cloud over our hearts before God. He sees clearly within our boxes and it truly should strike remorse, fear, and trembling not when mere men see a glimpse here and there, but when the Lord; the awesome and mighty judge, examines the intents of our hearts.


As much as I wish my brother would tell me what he is feeling and thinking about things; what his desires are, it is much more crucial that he search those out and confess them to God. How amazing it is that the perfect, pure, ultimate judge, who sees far more imperfection and flaw than man can realize we embody, is far greater in his mercy and forgiveness towards us! Why we turn to the cruel and negative perusal of the world instead of a merciful Father is beyond logic or reason.


What’s in your box?