Raising Godly Boys Minute

Wish your son would talk to you more? Take him outside. Since your son can turn to Google for an answer to any question, he may not come to you much with questions in his day-to-day life. But if you get him in an outdoor setting, he just might start asking you for help. Have him pitch your tent while you’re camping. Get on a boat and go fishing, and teach him how to tie his own lure and clean his own fish. At night, ask him to build a fire at your campsite. As he asks you questions ...

Do you remember this old children’s nursery rhyme? “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” While there’s some truth to this statement, we’ve all experienced the pain caused by hurtful things said to us. Words can hurt. The Bible says, “The tongue has the power of life and death,” and “on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.” We need to set a godly example for boys by how we speak to them and others and hold them to ...

How can you teach your son self control? Self control is, of course, one of the fruits of the spirit listed in Galatians 5. And psychologists say that self regulation skills are the key to avoiding addictions. So how can we develop this essential trait in our son? First, do all you can to model self-control. Do your best to make your words and actions line up, and be sure your son sees that. Second, help your boy learn how to make difficult tasks more fun. Could he listen to music while h...

Who or what do you look to for help when you need it? If you’re a Christian, God has given you a helper, the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth.” Boys often won’t be able to face their challenges on their own, but the Holy Spirit comes alongside them to help them — all they need to do is ask for and accept his help. Instead of trying to solve every problem our boys have, let’s point t...

You know your son needs sleep. But do you know just how much it can impact his life? You’ve no doubt heard about the studies that link adequate sleep to better school performance and behavior, two things that many boys particularly struggle with. But one study at the University of Maryland actually found that children who slept less than nine hours had different brain structure! The lack of sleep caused those children to have less grey matter in their brains, which, among other things...

How can you help make sure your kids keep their faith in God? The following statistics are eye-opening and sobering. According to Barna, nearly 59 percent of youth leave the church after they graduate high school, and only 17 percent maintain a biblical worldview. Common reasons for leaving the church include moving to college, judgmental and/or hypocritical church members, and no longer feeling connected to the people in their church. It’s crucial to equip your children to defend their f...

Do your kids believe it is better to give than receive? Science shows that children are born with a “compassionate instinct.” They observed that infants help others even though they are too young to have learned this behavior. Their motivation doesn’t depend on the expectation of a reward. As parents and father figures, it is our job to encourage our children to be givers, not takers. Takers are selfish: They seek to be better than others. Givers are generous: They want to bring out the bes...

Maybe our son’s safety shouldn’t be our only goal. Author Leslie Leyland Fields raised her son in Alaska. One day, her son got injured in an accident, and Leslie boarded a plane with him to get help. But when she felt the pilot pull up hard and turn, she thought they were about to hit a mountain and die. At that moment, Leslie felt regret. She thought she had failed at her one goal as a mom: to give her son a safe childhood. But just as her anxiety grew, a sense of peace from Jesus filled...

Who do your children belong to? The Bible says that once they decide to follow Jesus, they become God’s children. “To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 It’s amazing that God loves them so much and has named them as one of his children. Becoming a child of God comes with security. Being secure in your identity as God’s child removes your need for worldly love, praise, acceptance, affirmation, and respect. When the world, people, and ...

Dr James Dobson of Focus on the Family once received an interesting letter from a nine-year-old girl. The letter was titled “why girls are better than boys.” The list included everything from “girls are kinder to animals,” to “girls don’t smell as bad.” Amused, Dr. Dobson posted the letter in his newsletter, and asked boys to make their own list. He received a variety of responses, including “boys are better because they aren’t scared of scary movies,” and “boys can build better forts...

What gives you peace? Is it listening to music, spending time outdoors, or meditating? The best source of peace is the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Jesus told his disciples — and us: “I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” When our boys are worried and scared, we should point them to the Provider of Peace, Jesus. His peace will help change how they respond to scary situations. When they f...

Have you had The Talk with your son? That conversation about physical differences between males and females can be awkward and uncomfortable. So awkward, in fact, that some parents postpone The Talk until a later, more convenient time. As a dad, you need to courageously begin that conversation. Today’s kids encounter sexuality at school, the mall, and even at sporting events. And because boys are curious and visually enticed, waiting to have The Talk may lead to confusion of what sex is al...

How can you teach your son to respect women? Romans 12:10 says “Love one another with a brotherly love.” That is a far cry from the values of our culture, where disrespect is the norm. But while boys tend to have a natural respect for older men, they may need help learning how to treat women appropriately. First, lead by example. If you’re a man, treat the women in your life with kindness. Second, be sure to filter out and discuss what messages are shown in TV shows. And thirdly, remind y...

Raising a son is a lot like growing a garden. There’s a lot of strategy and decision making involved– where to plant your garden and what seeds to put in the ground. There’s grunt work– cultivating, planting, and building a fence. There’s waiting and watering daily, and dealing with unknowns like weather. There’s the stress of predators, and the joy of watching new growth. Even with all that work, in the end, in both gardening and parenting, the results are still completely out of our con...

When you want to open a package, you use scissors, not a jackhammer. When you want to tame your bedhead, you use a comb, not a pitchfork. Using the appropriate tool for the job is important. Similarly, when it’s necessary to correct your son, make sure to use the appropriate technique. A stern gaze might be enough warning for a sensitive boy. Another child may need extra chores or other forms of discipline to remind him that wrong behavior has consequences. As you train your son in the wa...

Is your son “too cool” for mom’s kisses? Here’s what you can do. Rhonda Stoppe was sitting in a hospital room with her six year old son Brandon. He was getting a sleep study after having a horrible seizure. Brandon was asleep, and Rhonda walked over and kissed him on the forehead. The technician told Rhonda to go look at the screen. Rhonda was astonished to see that, even though Brandon was asleep, his brain activity actually showed that he knew his mom kissed him. So if your son rolls hi...

Are you an idol worshiper? While most Americans don’t worship carved statues, idol worship is still prevalent in our society. We idolize things like money, possessions, and jobs … and people like actors, athletes, musicians, and even members of our own families. A biblical definition of an idol is anything or anyone we value more than God or worshiping someone or something other than God as though it were God. In the first of his ten commandments, God said, “You shall have no other gods befor...

Here’s a simple parenting tip– take some time to relax with your boy. Pediatrician Dr. Meg Meeker says that most parents don’t realize the importance of “doing nothing” with sons. Even if you only have ten minutes, invite your son to sit down on the front porch with you with his favorite snack or drink. Don’t badger him with questions, check your phone, or start lecturing. Simply sit together. Dr. Meeker says this is important for several reasons. It communicates that res...

Winston Churchill, British prime minister during World War II, said, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” And yet, some in our society are trying to change history, to make it conform to their political, social, and anti-Christian beliefs. Don’t let unbiblical ideology distort our American heritage. Remind your son that this great nation was founded on biblical principles. Principles like freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. Unfortunately, our nation is in...

What is TV teaching your son about masculinity? One study about male representation in TV shows studied 25 shows, over three thousand characters, and over four hundred episodes. Researchers found that, across the board, the male characters usually displayed the same negative traits– unhealthy coping mechanisms, aggression, a lack of emotion, and even a lack of care as a father. Without guidance, your son may begin to believe that these behaviors are normal and accepted in men. Make sure y...