This is a little funny article one of the ladies in my office sent me this morning about men never being depressed: 

Men Are Just Happier People—
What do you expect from such simple creatures?

Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours.

Wedding plans take care of themselves.

Chocolate is just another snack.
You can be President.
You can never be pregnant.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
You can wear NO shirt to a water park.

Car mechanics tell you the truth.
The world is your urinal.

You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.

You don’t have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.

Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100.

New shoes don’t cut, blister, or mangle your feet.

One mood all the time.

Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.

A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.

You can open all your own jars.

You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.

If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.

Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.

You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.

Everything on your face stays it’s original color.

The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.

You only have to shave your face and neck.

You can play with toys all your life.

One wallet and one pair of shoes — one color for all seasons.

You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.

You can ‘do’ your nails with a pocket knife.

You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.

You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier.

While this is fun, the reality is that many men today face the daily feeling of depression and sadness.

Depression is a reality and is not something we should just sweep under the carpet or something we should just ignore as not a problem.

For many men the heartbreak happens on a weekly basis when they get their paycheck knowing that what they are bringing in may not be enough to provide for their family. It happens when he sees friends who have supposedly fulfilled their dreams while his died many years ago. It happens when he gets more respect from the people he works with than from his wife and kids. It happens when the stress at work is so overwhelming that to even talk about it hurts like a sharp pain. It happens everyday and in so many ways.

I think over the years we in the church have done a good job of ignoring some of these very real emotions. I believe it is time to stand up and have real conversations about those real emotions.

We are told in the commercials that depression hurts, but Cymbalta can help. I tell you that depression can be a killer of your mind, soul and dreams, but the church can help; and must help!

Let’s stand up and allow people to have real conversations!