Validation

The book “Killing Lions” is a conversation between John and Sam Eldredge about the trials young men face.

[Sam] I know so many of us long for words of validation, but few ever hear them. An acquaintance of mine who lived down the street went out and bought a new (used) car one day. He spent quite a bit and took out a loan to boot. When he pulled up he started dancing around the driveway chanting, “I own a car! Now I am a man! I own a car! Now I am a man!” I wish I were kidding. It felt pretty hollow at the time; I knew that he was getting his validation from owning things. But it’s something that society had told him marks the way to adulthood.

[John] More like killing a dandelion, isn’t it? But in the absence of validation from God, we’ll take whatever scraps come our way.

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