Raising Godly Boys Minute

How big is your dream for your son? Pat Williams, co-founder of the Orlando Magic, writes that a “vision is a glowing word-picture of a desirable and optimistic future.” As parents, we can paint that portrait for our kids, conveying that life is more than just existing, paying bills, and managing problems. God created them and has a deep interest in their lives. Boys need heroes – more than just m...

What comes to mind when you see these three words? “Some Assembly Required” For many parents, these words bring back memories of a painful process of reading instructions, sorting through parts, and putting everything together — all under the watchful eye of your child as he waits with anticipation to play with his new toy. Following instructions can be time-consuming and frustrating, but it will...

Have you ever tried putting something together without looking at the instructions? I heard about a man who did this once with a wagon his son got for Christmas. Unfortunately, he put the wheels on wrong.  Each time he pulled his son in the wagon reminded him that he should have read the instructions first. Thankfully, God has given us instructions to follow in his word. The Bible is God’s big ins...

How are you doing with your new year’s resolutions? Every year many people resolve to exercise more and eat healthier. The Bible tells Christ-followers to take care of their bodies. “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” First Corinthians 3:16-17 Along...

Are men inherently bad? Of course not. Genesis 1:27 tells us that God created both male and female in His own image. But there’s a troubling narrative in our society right now that masculinity is toxic. So how can we as Christians fight this damaging idea? First, we can affirm, not punish, the natural masculine traits that appear in our sons– such as being high energy and risk seeking. Second, we...

Is your son experiencing “sideways” emotions? In her book Boy Talk, Dr. Mary Polce-Lynch tells the story of an 11-year-old boy named Andrew. Andrew had suddenly started having headaches and stomachaches. His parents were baffled because– although they had gone through a difficult divorce a few years earlier– things had since settled. Dr. Polce-Lynch figured out that the physical symptoms were a de...

How can you teach your son empathy? Start by modeling this skill in your own life. If the grocery store checker is rude to you, when you get in your car, say out loud to your son, “I wonder if that checker is having a bad day, and dealing with some tough things!” Help your son do this too. If he mentions someone at school who he doesn’t get along with, ask, “How do you think that person is feeling...

Have you ever seen your reflection in one of those silly circus mirrors that make you look super short or extremely skinny? Some mirrors can even make you look upside down. Although we’re not at a circus or looking into a strange mirror, today’s culture sometimes makes us feel as if we’re living in an upside-down world. That which is good is put to shame. And that which is evil is paraded with pri...

Who is the most generous person you know? You may think you have to be rich to be generous, but that’s not true. Mother Teresa said, “It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” God is our model for generosity. You cannot outgive God. He freely gives and lovingly provides for his children. God will give you what you need out of his infinite riches. In gratitude for everything...

Crowds follow individuals who communicate well. Every business, church, school, or ministry needs such people. Help your kids know how to speak well. Create opportunities for them to stand in front of other people and speak about anything. Ask your six-year-old to stand in front of the family at night and talk about his favorite super-hero. We can also challenge boys to write clearly - to present...

Do you know what the letters WWJD stand for? You’ll find the acronym on everything from bracelets to T-shirts to key chains. The letters stand for, What Would Jesus Do? This phrase reminds Christians to put Jesus first in all that we do. As parents, we need this reminder, but so do our kids. And the best way for them to learn this is to see it demonstrated in action. So the next time you’re faced...

While on a road trip, have your kids ever whined, “Are we there yet?” When the journey is long, we grow impatient. We want to arrive at the destination as fast as possible. And if roadblocks make us veer off course, we grow frustrated. Sometimes even angry. The same is true in the parenting journey. Our children are maturing socially, mentally, and spiritually—but sometimes not as fast as we’d lik...

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 25% of American kids live without a father or father-like figure in their homes. You heard that right. On average, 1 out of every 4 kids doesn’t have a dad to give them piggyback rides, help them with homework, or tuck them into bed at night. That’s tragic! If you have the privilege of being a dad, make sure to be there for your kids. Don’t just live in your ho...

When your son was young, did he ever point at someone in a wheelchair? Do your older kids whisper about the new kid who stutters or has a deformity? Teach your kids never to make fun of someone with a handicap. Because we live in a sin-cursed world where physical and mental handicaps exist, these handicaps make life really hard for these people. As Christians, we can’t make those handicaps go away...

Are you a fraud? Do you act one way at home and another way at church? More than ever, teenagers connect with people who are authentic in their motives and genuine in their behavior. As a parent, your son sees you at your best, but also at your worst. When you realize that you aren’t displaying the attitude and actions of a Christ-follower, the most difficult—and yet most meaningful—thing you can...

The land of the free and the home of the brave. What a great country we live in. The freedom we get to experience here in America was not cheap to attain. Many people gave all for the liberty we have. Jesus also gave everything for us to be free. The salvation He provided by dying on the cross is free, but it isn’t cheap. He paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. John 8:36 says this, “So if...

Does your son have a nickname? Many kids do. Some nicknames like Ace or Champ are fun and cute, while others like Rooster, Zippy, and Waffle usually come from some hilarious event or personality trait. Nicknames are common, but there’s a nickname that only your son can call you. That’s the exclusive name of Dad. It isn’t by accident that God gave you to your son, and your son to you. In his all-kn...

How do you like your eggs prepared? Scrambled and sunny side up are the most popular, but some people like them hard boiled or over easy. Just as there are many ways to cook an egg, there are also many ways to discipline your son to correct wrong behavior. Of course, you wish discipline were never necessary, but that’s an unreasonable eggs-pectation. When your son blatantly disobeys, don’t let his...

If you have a kindergartener, have you taught him to drive yet? If you have a teenage son, are you giving him tummy time? Of course not, but in the busyness of everyday life, you might forget where your youngest and oldest children are in their developmental process. Understanding the specific age and stage of each child is vital in seeing where he’s come from … and where he still needs to go. So,...

The human eye is incredible! Even though it has over two million working parts, it’s the fastest muscle in the body. It also distinguishes millions of colors. And yet, our eyes often miss what’s most important in life. When your son is on the soccer field, are you watching, or are you scrolling through social media on your phone? Can you detect when your son is frustrated, or do you not even notic...

When you have a problem, do you usually ask for help or try to figure things out on your own? One hindrance to the power of God in our lives is our unwillingness to reach out to him for help and trust him to meet our needs. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 We limit what God wants to do for us when we don’t trust him to me...

When have you felt a “healthy fear”? While working with electricity, you should have a “healthy fear” of its power and take the proper safety precautions. The Bible talks about having a “healthy fear” of the Lord.  The all-powerful and all-loving Creator of the universe fully deserves our fear and respect. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Fearing God gives u...

What does it mean to “guard your heart”? Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.” This proverb is written by a father to his son, but the instructions apply to everyone — no matter their age. Your heart is the source of your thoughts and feelings. Guarding your heart requires keeping your focus on the things of God. So many things in our world can pull o...

Does anyone like to suffer? The apostle Paul knew a lot about suffering. He suffered beatings, imprisonments, and shipwrecks. In Colossians 1:24, Paul said he “rejoiced” in his sufferings. What? How could he rejoice in suffering? Because God used it to advance the gospel. Paul also pointed out that suffering strengthens our perseverance, character, and hope. Most of us have little experience with...

Have you ever had a divine encounter with someone who came into your life at just the right time, and you knew it was a “God thing”? I heard about a family that had a flat tire at Christmastime. They pulled into the closest repair shop they could find. The technician who came out to help them was named “Emmanuel.” He agreed to fix the flat even though the shop had just closed. Every Christmas, thi...