How can you train your son into good character, character that will last, character that will see him become a man of responsibility and action?

The allures of society can drown your son in ease of life, pleasure, and infinite time-wasting.  Many young men simply fail to do anything with their lives.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Irving Stone wrote of Michelangelo in The Agony and the Ecstasy, “...his own integrity… forced him to do his best, even when he would have preferred to do nothing at all.”

There is a way to instill character in your son: give him godly mentors, a high target to aim for, and set challenges for him that will awaken the fire within his soul.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

It was just three simple words.

Evangelical Louis Palau was fighting terminal lung cancer. During that time, someone asked him, “After you pass away, if you could send a message down from heaven to all believers, what do you think you would say?”

Palau thought for a moment, then responded with three simple words: “Go for it.”

That kind of God-rooted courage is one of the most important traits to instill in our son.
When he’s little, this looks like letting him climb and explore in age-appropriate ways. When he’s older, this means stepping back to allow him to attempt things and fail big.

And when our son expresses a dream to us, let us be the first one to echo Palau’s encouraging words– “Go for it.”

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

What is your son afraid of?

In today’s world, there is a lot to fear.  School, friends, teachers, and classes are just a few.  Social media and today’s culture pile on enough to scare most adults, let alone children.

But the bible says, “God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Anchor your son in the word of God.  Lead your children to godliness by example.  Give them righteous mentors that will train them in the way they should go, and help them find friends to support, inspire, and uplift them.

Raising a child in today’s world can be scary, but God is with you!

For more information about raising your son into a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

“Raising boys is an extreme sport. That’s why I wear workout clothes every day.”

That’s a lighthearted quote from the blog Simply Well Balanced, but it sure has a lot of truth in it! Raising a son is a good way to rack up the steps on your fitness watch. But let me affirm you— if you’re letting your boy be wild– you’re probably doing it right.

Let him run around like crazy outside. Show him how to make mud pies. Watch him do tricks on his bicycle. Go fishing together, and let him hold the fish while you snap a picture.

Sure, it can be exhausting. But if your son ends the day making muddy footprints across your floor– I bet he’ll also have a smile on his face.

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

In today's directionless culture, how can a boy know which way to go?

As a boy, Luke climbed a 13,000-foot peak.  It was terrifying and exhilarating!   

Just below the summit, the path went through a channel cut into the rock by ferocious winds.  Protecting him from being swept off the rock face were steel cables mounted deep into the rock, secured there by the forest service. 

Confident of the steel cables' protection and seeing the summit, heI forged ahead and reached the top, a memory he'll never forget.

Give your son guidelines, steel cables set in rock, to protect him from being swept away, let him see the reward ahead of him, and there is no mountain he cannot climb.

For information about raising your son into a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

A perfect parent would raise a terrible son.

If you’re like many of us, when your head hits the pillow at night, your mind buzzes with the ways you could have been a better parent to your son.

But Ali Worthington, author of the book Remaining You While Raising Them, says to stop beating yourself up. She says even a perfect parent can raise a son who doesn’t know how to apologize or deal with a friend’s bad day. Our creator God is so kind and powerful that he can use even our weaknesses as parents to teach our sons valuable life lessons.

So the next time you feel you’ve messed up as a parent, apologize to your son, and know that God can use even your worst days for good.

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

How do you feel about your son's friends?

Do they make him a better person?  Do they encourage him to do the right thing?  Do your son's friends show him how to serve selflessly? 

Scripture says “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” This is doubly true for boys, who are still moldable clay, waiting to be formed by whatever-- and whoever-- is around them.  More than listening to the same music and watching the same movies, boys learn from each other, and shape each other's values.

Help your son to choose good friendships-- boys he can learn with, play with, and serve with.

For information about a Proven Process that is helping boys grow into godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Disciplining your son takes courage.

Whether your son is a toddler with a squeaky voice or a teenager with floppy hair, disciplining him can be quite a challenge. You may be met with a tantrum, eye rolls, or even the dreaded “I hate you!”  Sometimes, the response from your son might be so harsh that you wonder if discipline does more harm than good.

But don’t lose heart. Saying no and laying down consequences is an act of love. When your son hurts your feelings with his response, ask God for wisdom and courage. Remember the truth in Hebrews 12:11- “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

To learn about the five critical needs of boys, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Here’s a simple language shift that can reach the heart of your son. 

When your boy is bickering with a sibling or a friend, your instinct might be to say “Son, you need to be kind.”

But author Dr. Emerson Eggerichs says that you might need to say something else.

Dr. Eggerichs is widely known for his writings about how a man’s deepest desire is for respect. He says that desire starts when boys are very young. So much so, that if you tell your son to be kind and loving – that concept may not resonate very deeply with him.

If you, however, tell your boy to be respectful to others— he may listen more closely. Young men crave respect so much that they understand why another person would need it, too.

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

Why does your son need to learn courage?

Does he need to stand up for himself?  Stand up for others?  Stand up for what is right?

In today’s world, he will need to do all of these and more.

English poet and playwright Sameul Johnson said, “Where courage is not, no other virtue can survive except by accident.”

Lead by example.  Give your son godly mentors. Provide opportunities for him to test himself with the rush of a downhill bike course, a hard-fought game of sports, or a whitewater rapid,  and he’ll push his own boundaries to new heights.  Once he gets a taste of courage, he’ll find new horizons awaiting him.  He may surprise you by what he can become.

For more information about raising your son into a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.