With each step he took, the load felt heavier.

Matthew was on a hike with a group of other boys when he realized his backpack was overloaded. He feared that if he asked for help, the other boys would make fun of him.

Finally, he fell to his knees, and confessed he couldn’t carry his load. To his surprise, the boys took off Matthew’s backpack and distributed the heavy contents equally in their own bags.

In a society where being a boy can feel like a burden, young men need help. Make sure your son has both a father-figure and a group of positive male friends to help him carry his burdens. Your church is a great place to start, or you can search for a local Trail Life USA troop.

For more ideas to raise boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.