Raising Godly Boys Minute

Has your son become your idol?

That may seem like a ridiculous question. But for even the most well-intentioned parents, their son’s happiness and success can consume their entire life, to the point that it becomes more important than their relationship with GOd.

Take some time to sit with God and reflect on your relationship with your son. Are you willing to discipline him to develop his character, even if it m...

Being rooted in God’s Word, the Bible, is like the Shepherd’s tree, native to the Kalahari Desert in South Africa.

The Shepherd’s tree has the deepest documented roots of any tree, more than 230 feet deep.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 says: “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such tre...

Want to help your son manage his big emotions? 

It starts with you. Researchers have found that– because of something in our brains called mirror neurons– the emotions we display cause our children to feel those emotions, too. As New York Times writer Ashley Abramson put it, “The same part of your brain that lights up when you’re feeling happy may also light up when you observe happiness in others.”

So the next ti...

Do you know how long most people will spend on hold during their lifetime?

According to software company RingCentral, people on average will spend about 40 days of their life (or more than 1,000 hours) on hold with a call center.

In today’s instant-gratification society, most people, especially children, don’t want to wait for things, but the Bible calls us to be patient and “wait on the Lord.”

Patiently waiting is difficult for us an...

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 n...

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.”

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 bo...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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 sa...

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, acceptan...

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...

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...

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 visu...

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 fil...

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...

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 rem...