Raising Godly Boys Minute

It’s getting harder and harder to find programming on TV, movies in the theaters, or books in the bookstore to which we, as parents, feel comfortable exposing our children.
Guarding their hearts and minds becomes infinitely more difficult the day you hand them their first smartphone.
Because boys are typically very visual, in both their learning and what stimulates them emotionally, our “visual society,” with all of its ungodly trappings becomes a literal minefield, slowly destroying their boyhood innocence, one blast at a time.
We know the saying: “Garbage in, Garbage out.” Jesus phrased it like this: “From out of the heart, the mouth speaks.”* What are your boys viewing that will eventually come out as words and deeds? And does the answer to that question alarm you?
For information about raising your son into a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Have you ever felt like an outsider? Like you didn’t fit in?

God created us with an innate desire to belong, to connect with others, to be part of a community.

Our sons are no different. Even when they act uninterested, hide in their room, or say they don’t care, they still long to fit it. They want to join with others and experience the thrill of being part of something bigger than themselves. Our job is to steer them toward a group with healthy goals and positive influences. Pray about a place for them to belong.

Encourage your boys to join a Christian group like Trail Life, where they can experience God’s creation, mature into godly men, and accomplish tasks alongside others.

For information about a Proven Process that is helping boys grow into godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Does your son know how to succeed?

A young boy was talking to JD, an infectiously happy disc-golf expert who drove trucks for a living.

Eyes crinkling, JD told the boy, “I figured out the secret to making money as a truck driver.  Wanna hear it?”

The boy nodded eagerly, and JD answered with a smile, “Keep the left door closed.”

What JD meant was, “don’t stop unnecessarily; keep on driving.”

Whether your son is climbing a mountain, practicing for football or soccer, or learning a trade, the secret to success is often that simple; just keep going.  Persistence brings success, and small successes now mean you have prepared him to succeed on a much larger field: in life.

For more information about raising your son into a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Teach your son to do the best he can with what God has given him.

Violinist Niccolo Paganini was playing a piece in front of an audience when, one by one, his violin strings began to snap. Finally, Niccolo was left with only one single working string. Unfazed, he finished the piece on the single string he had left.

This is a wonderful example of focusing on our strengths. Our Creator has a specific purpose for every young man’s life. But sometimes, it’s easy for boys to only look at their weaknesses and decide that they aren’t equipped to do great things.

Instead, help your son focus on his strengths, and offer those to God. After all, our Lord can create beautiful music with any number of violin strings.

For more ideas for raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Tim Allen once said, “Do you know what causes sibling rivalry? Having more than one kid."
Worldly speaking, this is true. And funny. However, from a biblical perspective, the cause of sibling rivalry can reside in an “only child” household, too, for the ultimate cause is our sinful nature. The selfish cries of “Mine!” can manifest themselves in the presence of friends or relatives just the same.
Jesus taught us that the entire Law of God can be summed up in two steps: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and Love your neighbor as yourself.* Who’s closer to being a neighbor than a sibling?
For when we teach our boys to have the heart of our Savior, siblings become more than mere flesh and blood with whom to compete.
For information about raising your son into a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.