Raising Godly Boys Minute

Are you sure your son has what he needs for this life?One mountain hike, a boy showed up without a ground pad to go under his sleeping bag.  The nights only dipped into the mid-40’s, but without a ground pad, the cold earth underneath him would have drained heat off his  body, leaving him shivering (and not sleeping) all night long.Check in with your son.  Talk to him.  Listen to him.  Make sure he has the tools he needs for success.  Is there something that is draining him every day?  Oftentimes, a boy might not tell you what is wrong– he may not know himself, just like the boy who was missing a ground pad. For more information about raising your son into a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

To him, it is a big deal. When your teenage son faces rejection or embarrassment, your first instinct may be to say,  “Son, in the scheme of things, this is not a big deal.” But that might not be the best approach. Through MRI scans of teenage brains, psychologists have actually found that a teen’s amygdala– the part of the brain that senses negative emotions– is much more reactive than a child’s brain or an adult’s brain. So instead of telling your son to stop worrying, empathize. Recall a similar situation you’ve been in and how it made you feel. Suggest he does something like working on his car or walking his dog. Help him find healthy coping mechanisms, and he’ll start to learn how to better handle negative experiences. For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Do you remember when you got your first pocketknife?Cody got his first pocketknife as a birthday present from his grinning grandfather under the watchful scowl of his mother.  The first thing he did was cut himself and get a bandaid put on his finger.As he grew in years and maturity, he learned to responsibly handle his knife, and went on to teach other boys how to sharpen, care for, and safely use their knives.  But it all started with a cut.Boys need curated danger– the opportunity to run real risks, albeit small ones, to test themselves against life.  Give your son the gift of risk.  Canoeing, football, and rock-climbing all have their risks, but pay their rewards in character.For more information about raising your son into a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Have you ever seen a boy transformed?One member of an outdoor youth program was a troubled teen who had spent time in Juvie, and was likely headed for prison.  His leaders worked hard to mentor him, teach him, and praise every effort he gave, no matter how small.From annoyed disinterest to tolerance, he slowly began to listen.  To everyone’s surprise, he became one of the most faithful members, showing up for every meeting, and helping out with anything  asked of him.As he grew older,  not only did Luther stay out of prison, but he has a good job and a wonderful family, all because someone invested in his life.For information about a Proven Process that is helping boys grow into godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Is there a storm in your son’s life? When your son inevitably faces something difficult in his life, it may feel like a hurricane is blowing through. And when it does, you want nothing more than to end the storm—or at least hold an umbrella over your boy’s head. But as hard as we try, we cannot protect our son from every pain in this life. But here’s the good news. Whatever storm your son is enduring right now, Jesus is with him. The wind and waves obey Jesus. So when the winds pick up and the rain beats down, point your son to his Savior. Pray that he clings to the only one who can truly calm the storm. To learn about raising boys to be godly men, go to Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.