Raising Godly Boys Minute

Disciplining your son takes courage.

Whether your son is a toddler with a squeaky voice or a teenager with floppy hair, disciplining him can be quite a challenge. You may be met with a tantrum, eye rolls, or even the dreaded “I hate you!”  Sometimes, the response from your son might be so harsh that you wonder if discipline does more harm than good.

But don’t lose heart. Saying no and laying down consequences is an act of love. When your son hurts your feelings with his response, ask God for wisdom and courage. Remember the truth in Hebrews 12:11- “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

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

Here’s a simple language shift that can reach the heart of your son. 

When your boy is bickering with a sibling or a friend, your instinct might be to say “Son, you need to be kind.”

But author Dr. Emerson Eggerichs says that you might need to say something else.

Dr. Eggerichs is widely known for his writings about how a man’s deepest desire is for respect. He says that desire starts when boys are very young. So much so, that if you tell your son to be kind and loving – that concept may not resonate very deeply with him.

If you, however, tell your boy to be respectful to others— he may listen more closely. Young men crave respect so much that they understand why another person would need it, too.

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

Why does your son need to learn courage?

Does he need to stand up for himself?  Stand up for others?  Stand up for what is right?

In today’s world, he will need to do all of these and more.

English poet and playwright Sameul Johnson said, “Where courage is not, no other virtue can survive except by accident.”

Lead by example.  Give your son godly mentors. Provide opportunities for him to test himself with the rush of a downhill bike course, a hard-fought game of sports, or a whitewater rapid,  and he’ll push his own boundaries to new heights.  Once he gets a taste of courage, he’ll find new horizons awaiting him.  He may surprise you by what he can become.

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

It was just three simple words.

Evangelical Louis Palau was fighting terminal lung cancer. During that time, someone asked him, “After you pass away, if you could send a message down from heaven to all believers, what do you think you would say?”

Palau thought for a moment, then responded with three simple words: “Go for it.”

That kind of God-rooted courage is one of the most important traits to instill in our son. When he’s little, this looks like letting him climb and explore in age-appropriate ways. When he’s older, this means stepping back to allow him to attempt things and fail big.

And when our son expresses a dream to us, let us be the first one to echo Palau’s encouraging words– “Go for it.”

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

Have you ever had a mentor or teacher that you wish you had listened to?

In a whitewater course, two seasoned veterans taught  the intricacies of draw strokes, pry strokes, reading a rapid, and the joy of eddy turns.

But five minutes onto the river, one boy panicked, ignored the calls of his mentors, and ended up capsizing his canoe in the middle of a rapid and wrapping it around a large rock, while everyone else eddied up safely on the other side of the river.

Teach your son to listen to the voice of his leaders.  This life can be a swift river with dangerous rocks at every turn.  A good mentor can make all the difference in the world.

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