Raising Godly Boys Minute

Batman struggles with being obsessive. Iroman has a problem with arrogance. And the Hulk…well, I think you can guess what his character flaw is.

We never say a superhero isn’t super just because they have issues. So why do we as men think we cannot be good mentors, just because we aren’t perfect?

Forty-three percent of boys today are raised by a single mom. Seventy-eight percent of teachers are female. So many young men have no examples in their life showing them what it means to be a man.

Take some time today for a young man in your life. Invite him on a hike or a fishing trip. You don’t have to be perfect. To that boy, you will be a superhero.

To learn about the 5 critical needs of boys, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

I will make a bet that your cell phone is within reach right now!

The first cell phone weighed 2.4 pounds and was larger than your head. That’s definitely not something you’d want to carry in your pocket. Fortunately, today’s cell phones are much smaller and lighter. They allow us to quickly talk And text each other.

And yet, despite the extraordinary technology within a cell phone, these devices often hinder communication. You’ve seen it—family members sitting beside one another staring at their phones. We’re so plugged into these devices that we lose contact with others. the very thing the devices were created for!

Don’t let that be you. Sure, go ahead and use technology, but don’t let it replace face-to-face communication. The more you talk and laugh with your teens, the more they’ll want to put down their phones and share life together with you.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Are you hanging on …too tightly?

In 1956, Jim Elliot was murdered by Indians in the jungles of Ecuador. Newspaper reporters wondered why this missionary would risk his life for uncivilized Indians. Though Jim Elliot died at only 28 years old, he had a proper perspective of life. He said,
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Too often, we hold tightly to possessions and activities that hold no eternal value. Don’t make the mistake of clinging to things of insignificance. Teach your kids through your example to give your time and talents to worthwhile causes. That may seem hard at first, but as you make God a daily priority, your possessions and activities will come into proper focus.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Microwave much?

In today’s society, we expect immediate results. When we try something new, we want instant success. But life doesn’t always work that way.

Sometimes life is hard and tough. Sometimes failure crashes over us like an avalanche. During these times, it’s easy to grow discouraged. Maybe even angry.

But if you are wise, you’ll use times of fatigue, frustration, and failure to teach your son important lessons about grit and determination. And guess what? The more your son sees you rely on God as you work through trials and challenges, the more he’ll understand that God provides the strength to continue on.

It’s great when failures transform into Immediate successes. But it’s even better when your son grows spiritually by seeing your faith in action over time.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

“Trust your instruments.” This mantra is repeated all through flight school. While flying, it’s easy to get disoriented visually, especially in thick fog. Pilots must learn to trust their gauges, not their vision.

Boys today are also “flying through fog,” so to speak. In the confusion of cultural relativism and gender fluidity, young men don’t know where they are or where they are going. So they often choose their own course, or refuse to move at all.

As parents, we must help our son gain a solid foundation and understanding of God’s Word. Involve your boy in organizations that are founded on Biblical truth. Help him find a positive, godly mentor. And encourage your boy to memorize Scripture– the only “instrument” that will never fail him.

To learn about raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.