The other night I was in a conversation with a group of friends. We were exchanging stories about how “unimpressed” we are with some gentlemen around us. Stories were swapped back and forth between all who were present. One girl told about how a young man had called and asked her to go with him to dinner so that he could seek her wisdom and counsel about a girl he wished he was dating. Another told of how she went to help some of her guy friends in the kitchen when they called asking for her expertise. It was later in the evening and as she left to go home it was very dark, and very cold. Not one of the 9 men present even offered to walk her home. The theme was one of frustration and lack of hope that good men existed in the world.
Yes, There are Good Men in the World
Looking for a good man? Find one doing service!
Then something happened. A specific young man entered the conversation. With the wintery weather, the landlord of the apartment complex where many of the ladies reside had been unable to dig out all of the ice and snow. Their parking lot began to look like an ice rink. Knowing many of the occupants personally, and having a love for shoveling snow, this young man spent hours cleaning out their parking lot. When he realized there was more work then he could accomplish on his own he called his friends to join him in his endeavor. This young man had been quite impressive rather than unimpressive. After discussing his efforts, it seemed as if there was a glimmer of hope rekindled among all in the room. From this glimmer it was decided that good men still exist in the world!
A few days later I heard a shoveling sound in my own driveway. Not expecting our landlord or anyone else, I looked out the window to see what was happening. What to my wondering eye should appear than same young man shoveling my driveway. He even came up on our porch and dumped the snow out of the chair, and cleaned our stairs. All of this was accomplished without anyone asking, and without much of a reward (other than a small cup of hot cocoa).
Now, I was a recipient of this kind young man’s hard work and efforts. It was quite humbling to be on the receiving side. He will never know what a difference such a small and simple thing made. My roommate could now walk into our home without slipping on the stairs. Our cars were better able to make it out of the driveway and the ground was better prepared for the next storm that lay ahead. Though we weren’t the entire complex who benefited from his first efforts, the five of us were probably even more thankful than they were!
Men, if You Want to Impress a Woman…
Truly the biggest difference I saw was that I also felt that glimmer of hope that good men still exist in the world. It wasn’t a lesson that I was expecting to learn, or even aware that I needed. However, for the second time in a week the Lord had blessed me to see the actions of a good man. While not all men are always aware of ways to bless the women around them, we know that there is at least one who is not only aware, but action-oriented enough to do something about it! Thank you young man. You know who you are!
To the single women of the world I issue a simple reminder not to quit the search. Many young men want to do good and be good. The kind men you are looking for are out there, perhaps even in your front yard shoveling snow. To the young men, I plead for you to be more aware. The truth is I doubt any of the men in this post had any clue how their behavior affected the women around them. If you are single and want to get married you might try to follow the example of this good man! Not only will it bring blessings to your life, it will also restore faith in others lives!
Ashley Dewey is extremely talented at being single. Hobbies include awkward conversations with members of the opposite sex, repelling third dates, talking to boys about their girl problems and to girls about their boy problems. In her spare time she also has a very fulfilling school life, work life, and social life.
Besides being a professional single, Ashley is also a BYU graduate with a degree in linguistics (Aka word nerd). She enjoys studying other languages, particularly American Sign Language, and finds most all of them fascinating. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language.
Ashley works most of the time and has often been accused of being a workaholic. Currently she works full time as a merchandiser and supervisor in a retail store, and part time doing social media work. On her day off she works (really it doesn't feel like work) in the Provo LDS temple. The only kind of work she finds difficulty focusing on is house work.
Her favorite activities in her free time are reading, writing, creating social experiments, and spending time with great friends and family. Specific activities with those family and friends include: going to concerts, plays, dance recitals, BYU basketball and football games, and watching sports on television.
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