How a fine man is described in 3 words

Dear friend,
If a woman is looking
for a serious relationship

what are the best three words
she could say about a man

after her first opportunity
to talk at length with him?

Suppose

Suppose they go
on a first date

and spend the afternoon
at a coffee house

telling each other
about their lives.

And suppose
she gets together

a few days afterwards
with her girlfriends.

They are on the edge
of their seats

waiting to hear
how it went.

What would be
the most powerful
affirmative evaluation
of the man

that the woman
could make?

What three words
if she said them

would knock her girlfriends
speechless?

Let’s try on a few…

She could declare…
“He’s super hot!”

…”Yeah?” They reply.
”Hot guys are a dime a dozen.”

She could announce…
“He’s super rich!”

…”So what?” they retort.
”A big fat wallet doesn’t mean squat.”

She could say…
“He’s super funny!”

…”So?” they respond.
”So he can make you laugh. Big whoop.”

I know what you’re thinking

That is NOT
how the girlfriends
would respond.

They would not dismiss
the importance
of these factors.

On the contrary
they would be
extremely impressed.

Hot! Rich! Funny!

WOWEE!!!

They’d be
giving her high fives

and exclaiming
what a great catch
this man would make.

Alas

What I wrote is how I wish
the girlfriends would respond.

So suppose the situation is how I wish

Suppose the woman
and her girlfriends
all have their values straight.

Suppose they know
what it’s like

to be dumped
by a hot rich funny guy

who gets bored with them
and wants a new plaything.

Suppose these women
have learned the hard way

that they need to find
a real man.

A fine man.

One who could be
hot or not,
rich or not,
funny or not,

highly educated or not,
professional or not,

athletic or disabled
black white brown
or otherwise labeled.

What they need
is a man
who is fine.

The moment of truth

So now we are back
in the room

where the woman
is meeting
with her girlfriends.

They can’t wait
any longer

for her to tell them
how her date went!

What do you suppose
are the three words

this woman
is about to say

that will make
the world
stop turning

She looks around the room
at their faces…

they are staring intently
at her…

She leans in…
and declares:

“He’s a keeper!”

Their eyes go wide.

No one says a word.

They are speechless.

Why?
Why does the room
go quiet?

Why are they all
so amazed?


They are stunned
because

this is such a rare
and powerful statement.

Every single female
in the room

knows exactly
what it means.

It means

their friend
has found a gem.

She has found an admirable man.

A man of quality.

A man who is made
of the right stuff.

A man
with whom

she could see building
a solid and lasting relationship.

A man
she would be proud

to bring home
to meet her family.

What makes a man a keeper?

There is one
fundamental factor

that makes a man
a keeper.

Character.

Strength of character
is the rock solid foundation
of a lasting relationship.

He’s a keeper means

this man is solid.

He is honest, trustworthy,
reliable and responsible.

He has strong moral values
and principles.

He respects himself and others
and others respect him.

He is a builder not a user.

Why does a woman need a keeper?

A woman needs to know
she can count on a man.

Count on him
to be there for her

in sickness
and in health.

Count on him
to be loyal and true
their whole lives.

Some people think
this is an old fashioned idea.

That young women today
don’t need a man
like this any more.

I disagree.

How do I know?

How do I know
that women

today
the same as always

long to find
a man who is a keeper?

A fine man
who will still love them

when they both
grow old?

Take a look at this video
of Ed Sheeran singing
Thinking Out Loud.

Observe the rapture
and the longing

on the faces
of these young women

as he sings:

When your legs don't work
like they used to before

And I can't sweep you
off of your feet

Will your mouth
still remember
the taste of my love?

Will your eyes
still smile
from your cheeks?

And darlin', I will
be lovin' you till
we're seventy

And baby, my heart
could still fall as hard
at twenty-three

When my hair's
all but gone
and my memory fades

And the crowds
don't remember my name

When my hands
don't play the strings
the same way, mmm

I know you
will still love me
the same

'Cause, honey, your soul
could never grow old,
it's evergreen

And baby, your smile's
forever in my mind
and memory

You

I hope you feel that song.

Maybe you already know
you are a keeper.

Or maybe you are
in the process

of growing
to become one.

I believe every man
has the potential
to develop rock solid character.

So I am going
to keep right on
building you.

To be a man of character
means you are true.

True to yourself
and true to others.

You KEEP your promises.

That’s what it means
to be a keeper.

Blessings,

Dr. Hall