Raising Godly Boys Minute

You can make your son’s day by putting his favorite candy in his backpack— a fruit roll up, a kit-kat, or maybe a Snickers. But what if you could load his backpack with what he needs emotionally, spiritually, and socially, as well? The critical needs of boys can be symbolized by five survival tools– a compass, a map, a guide, a flashlight, and a mountain. First, boys need a “compass”– a clear mission, and a “map”– a safe male mentor. Next, your son needs a “guide”– peers to walk beside on the trail of life. The “flashlight” symbolizes every boy’s need for clear boundaries and rules. And finally, young men must have a “mountain”– a real-world challenge. And of course, giving them their favorite candy can help, too. For ideas on meeting the five critical needs of boys, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com

If your son is like most boys, he’s full of curiosity and spontaneity. These characteristics help boys better understand the world around them. But—when not properly controlled—impulsive actions can lead to problems and pain. Help your son understand how actions have consequences. A great way to do this is to read the Bible with him. Show him how Samson thought he was invincible—but that he was no match against Delilah. Point out how Peter thought he could walk on water—but that he sank when he took his eyes off Jesus. By studying both good and bad examples, your son will gain a better understanding of how to act with discernment and wisdom. For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

If your car has a flat tire, it’s important to fix it fast. If you keep driving on it, the rim will quickly shred the rubber. After that you’ll ruin the alignment, brakes, and suspension. You might even lose control of the vehicle. Similarly, if your relationship with your son is deflated, it’s important to fix it … fast. Maybe you had a disagreement or misunderstanding with him. Maybe harsh words were said. Maybe impatience won the day. Regardless of who was at fault, it’s important to patch things up. You don’t want bitterness causing more serious problems down the road. A little bit of preventative maintenance goes a long way in helping you both go the distance. For information about a Proven Process that is helping boys race ahead in life, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

At times, your son may act like an outlaw terrorizing the wild west. As sheriff, it’s your job to keep the peace and enforce the laws. But as you know, it’s easy to grow frustrated, impatient, and exhausted at having to correct him over and over again. When your blood pressure starts to rise, take time to recall moments from the past. Pull out your phone and flip through old pictures. Do you remember the day your son learned to ride a bike? Or when he won a ribbon at the science fair? Remember him jumping for joy after kicking that soccer goal? These memories help put present-day challenges in perspective. Even though life often seems hard, good times from the past will encourage you to stay strong for the future. For more parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Are you concerned about bullying? Research tells us that the #1 concern of parents for their children is that they will be bullied.60 percent of all mothers and fathers report this fear. Though bullying may seem to us to be child’s play that will pass in time, the emotional effects are powerful, especially for boys, who are struggling with identity in a world that values them less. Your son’s best response to bullying will be fostered as his identity grows in a community that supports your values, which should include a respect for all people. A strong identity with a faith-based community is a great defense against the feelings of inadequacy that can threaten a boy’s confidence. For information about a Proven Process that is helping boys grow into godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

A tiny seed doesn’t become a towering tree overnight, nor by accident. After a seed sprouts, it requires healthy soil, direct sunlight, and consistent moisture to develop strong roots. These roots are vital in helping it stand strong through the winds and storms of life. The same is true in parenting. Your son needs healthy attention, direct instruction, and consistent love in order to develop a strong foundation to withstand today’s anti-Christian culture. By providing your son this emotional support, you establish the foundation that will lead him toward greater character, purpose, and leadership skills in life. For information about raising your son into a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

God made boys with a competitive spirit. They crave the excitement of challenging themselves against others and emerging victorious. This desire to compete is a positive characteristic. But when competition within the home mutates into sibling rivalry, beware. Sibling rivalry often begins with jealousy, bitterness, and resentment. Because brothers and sisters don’t know how to process these emotions, they often resort to bickering, insults, and even outright fighting. As a parent, it’s easy to grow impatient with your quarreling kids. Instead, take time to pray for wisdom. Evaluate what the core issue is—and then respond accordingly. Many times, boys simply need greater physical activity or encouragement to achieve meaningful goals. For more on this, and practical help in growing boys grow into godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Boys love to test their physical strength through competition. This often involves sports such as football, soccer, or wrestling. But boys also measure their strength through weightlifting. By pumping iron, they develop muscle and gain stamina. The problem is that in the gym, it’s easy for boys to think that bigger biceps equals a better man. Teach your son that, although a challenging physical routine can bring all kinds of results, even more important than physical strength . . . is strength of character. Here’s an idea: Study Bible characters from God’s Word. How did those men succeed or fail in life? How can we learn from their examples? Becoming a godly man doesn’t happen by accident. It takes consistent training. Trail Life USA has a Proven Process that is helping boys grow spiritually. Learn more at Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Warning! Your son is being targeted. A relentless enemy is trying to entice, trap, and destroy his heart and mind. This enemy hides in the shadows—yet is constantly attacking your son. Who is this enemy? It’s pornography. Here’s a shocking statistic. The top pornographic website has more visits each day than Netflix, Amazon, and Twitter—combined! Don’t let pornography destroy your son’s heart, mind, and future. Help him develop a solid foundation in Scripture. Remind him that Philippians 4:8 instructs him to think on things that are true, noble, just, and pure. It’s a tough world out there . . . especially for boys. That’s why Trail Life USA provides practical resources to help you along the way. Visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com to learn about a Proven Process that is helping transform boys into godly men.

Boys are in trouble. More than ever, they’re being intentionally misled and confused by an anti-Christian culture that wants to destroy their faith in Jesus Christ. Secular worldviews—including relativism and humanism—also want to devour your son’s heart and mind, and thereby control his thoughts and actions. To withstand these attacks, boys need to be well-grounded in God’s Word. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” To withstand the enemy’s attacks, you’ve got to fight lies with truth. And the greatest of all weapons is the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God. Question: Are you helping your son study God’s Word? If you need help, visit Trail Life USA and RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Boys crave action and adventure. That’s why video games and movies grab their attention. But too often, this content is crude, sensual, and violent. Help your son find action and adventure in the pages of a good book. But beware. Many of the books written specifically for boys carry unbiblical worldviews. Secular authors are strategically influencing boys in unhealthy ways. Be careful about what your son reads. Encourage him to dive into fascinating stories about missionaries and evangelists. Additionally, many explorers, inventors, and scientists have great testimonies of faith. Their stories of reliance on God are just as exciting as fiction. By inspiring your son through godly role models, you show him that the greatest adventure in life is found in following God. For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

It’s a sad fact that anxiety is attacking kids across the country. According to the Center for Disease Control, 7.1% of children have been diagnosed with anxiety. That’s around 4.4 million kids! There are many reasons for this anxiety, including fear of contracting COVID, worry about finding friends at school, and even dread about what the future holds. As a parent, it’s important to remind your son or daughter that even when the world feels out of control, we can have confidence that God reigns supreme. Joshua 1:9 says, “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” What a wonderful promise that God loves us and takes care of us. For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Two simple words strike terror in a parent’s heart. Those words are: “Assembly Required.” And yet, too often we ignore the instruction manual when putting together a bike or race car track for our son. We think, “Yeah, I can do this by myself!” But after hours of frustration, we swallow our pride and study the instruction manual to assemble the toy. Parenting your son is also a complex process, especially these days with so many flashy distractions competing for his attention. Thankfully, God’s Word provides detailed instruction on how to guide your son in the way he should go. Take time to read The Book of Proverbs together. There you’ll learn practical wisdom about how God wants us to grow and develop along the pathway of life. For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Each day contains 1,440 minutes. That may seem like a bunch of time, but it passes by in a flash. The same can be said for weeks, and months, and even years. Time is passing quickly . . . that’s a fact. But here’s another fact: You don’t want to look back on your parenting years with regret. Don’t allow the busyness of life to pull you away from investing time and attention in your son. Because—before you know it—your son will be grown up and heading out into the world. Ephesians 5:16 reminds us to redeem the time because the days are evil. But how do we do this? Begin by making sure your priorities are properly focused. Then, be intentional in spending one-on-one time with your son. For more parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Statistics indicate that girls struggle with self-image problems more than boys. But if it’s your son that’s hurting because he doesn’t like how he looks, statistics don’t matter. You just want to help your son. Compounding the problem are social media sites promoting their version of what is physically attractive and culturally trendy. When boys compare themselves with these unrealistic expectations, feelings of inadequacy can cause them to sink into depression. Help your son develop a proper understanding of true self-worth. Remind him that 1 Timothy 2:4 says that we are “chosen by God and precious.” As you guide your son through life, focus his attention on the Savior, and away from social media sites that batter his self-esteem. To combat negative influences, consider getting involved in healthy outdoor activities. For more information, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

If you’ve got a boy in your house, you know that God made boys with lots of energy and enthusiasm. It’s important that we provide ways for them to experience fun, excitement, and adventure—beyond the everyday routines of life. This can sometimes be difficult at home where space is limited. That’s why finding ways for him to engage in the outdoors is so important. And, while creating opportunities in the backyard or a local park can go a long way toward encouraging this engagement, think about creating camping and hiking experiences that go beyond the ordinary. Maybe find your way to an outdoor Christian Boys organization like Trail Life that makes this part easy! For more tips on helping your son grow physically, mentally, and spiritually, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Have you ever played Jenga, the block-stacking game? It’s fun taking turns stacking blocks and watching the tower grow tall. But eventually, the tower becomes unbalanced, and the blocks come tumbling down. As a parent, don’t allow yourself to become unbalanced in life. As you go about your daily routines, avoid stacking too many obligations in your life. The higher your number of commitments, the greater the risk of wearing yourself out and failing to fulfill your most important responsibilities. Finding that balance between work and family life can be really hard. The key, though, is determining your priorities and then pursuing only those activities that contribute toward your overall goals. But remember, you’ll never go wrong by investing time and attention in your kids. For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Here’s a trivia question: Which state has the most lighthouses? If you answered Michigan, you’re absolutely right. In the darkness of night, lighthouses warn sailors of shallow sandbars and rocky shorelines. Without these lighthouses, many boats and sailors would crash into these obstacles and suffer great hardship and pain. In many ways, you serve as a lighthouse to your son. As he sails through life, you are in a key position to warn him of unseen hazards. Use your own personal experiences to point him in the right direction. But make sure you also emphasize the importance of God’s Word. The Bible offers your son practical guidance in navigating the seas of life. Help your son stay on course. For more information and parenting resources, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Social media sites have tremendous power to influence your son’s thoughts and actions. But there’s an even more influential force in your son’s life—and that’s his friends. Research tells us that ensuring a positive community of faith for your son is one of the best ways to shield him against negative influences and to set him up for success. Though it’s unreasonable for you to expect your son’s friends to be perfect, they should exhibit a general attitude of respect and obedience to authority. Do you know who your son’s friends are? Are they a good influence, or do they display destructive behaviors that are holding him back? By helping your son know how to choose good friends, you provide an atmosphere of growth and development. For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or Raising GodlyBoys.com

What does 100 billion of anything look like? Astronomers estimate that our Milky Way Galaxy holds around 100 billion stars. If you counted one star per second, it would take you over 3,000 years to count those stars. That’s incredible! And yet, God—the master designer of billions of galaxies—loves each person more than any of those stars. So, the next time you see your son frustrated and hurting, wrap your arms around him and give him a giant hug. Remind him that he is of tremendous value to you AND to the Almighty God of the universe. Trials and challenges are a natural part of life, but together, you and your son can bring them to God in prayer. For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.