Raising Godly Boys Minute

Here’s a new prescription for your glasses…

A comedy group once posted a fake commercial online for a device called “husband glasses.” When a wife put on the glasses, she no longer noticed the clutter in their home– but she could see a deer out of their window quite well.

That satire video points out an interesting truth. Starting from a very young age, boys and girls see the world quite differently. While girls focus on details, boys tend to be more skilled in noticing things that are far away– making them better hunters and protectors.

So, as a parent, be sure to put on your “son,” S-O-N, glasses. Give your son grace when he misses details. And encourage him to hone his visual strengths through outdoor activities— like archery or birdwatching.

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

Sometimes a country music lyric just nails it.

In 1999, a unique song was released on country radio. It wasn’t about trucks or dirt roads– it was about the relationship between a loving stepfather and a stepson.

To everyone’s surprise, the song reached number one on the country charts. The key lyric, sang by artist Brad Paisley, reads:  “I hope I’m at least half the dad that he didn’t have to be.”

You may not have a biological son. But every young man longs to be mentored, invested-in, and listened-to– not out of obligation, but simply out of love. Be prayerful about finding a boy in your church or your extended family who needs a dad-like figure to show him that he is worthy– just like the young man in that famous song.

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

Henry David Thoroeau once said, “I go a-fishing and a-hunting every day, but omit the fish and the game, which are the least important part. I have learned to do without them.”

Even when our fishing lines are slack and our deer tags are unfulfilled, we men have been wired by our Creator to need challenge and adventure.  And boys today are no exception.

Each week, help your son find a new activity to tackle. It doesn’t have to be hunting or fishing– it could be trying a complicated recipe, seeking out unique coins, or attending a class on weather watching. Trust me– the result won’t matter much to your boy. He needs adventure simply for the sake of adventure.

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

You wouldn’t eat a raw potato, of course. But what if you chopped that potato up, and put it in hot oil for several minutes? You would have delicious, golden french fries.

As parents, we want our sons to have the happiest life possible, free of things that are risky or hurtful. We often wish we could take away every obstacle in our boy’s way so that he can accomplish all of his dreams.

But don’t be afraid to let your son fail, whether that means falling while trying a new skateboard trick, or not getting into the prestigious college he applied to. Just as hot oil changes a potato for good, difficult circumstances can transform your son into the person God created him to be.

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

In 1962, the Soviet Union was winning the Space Race. To inspire the nation, President Kennedy announced, “We choose to go to the Moon.” He admitted that this wouldn’t be easy, but that we would succeed.

President Kennedy was right. Achievement is built on the backbone of hard work. But it’s competition that spurs us to even greater heights of progress. That’s why it’s unfortunate that today’s socialistic society tells parents that competition harms a boy’s self-esteem when they lose.

Even though losing isn’t fun, it’s by trudging through the valleys of loss that we can then enjoy the mountaintops of victory. By inspiring your son to conquer obstacles, he’ll develop the knowledge, skills, and fortitude to succeed in life.

To learn more about growing boys into godly men, download the free ebook Raising Godly Boys: A Proven Process at Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.