On his first day of preschool my son peered into the classroom and said, “Dad, I don’t want to go in there.”

I dropped to one knee in front of him and put my hand on his shoulder. Meeting him eye-to-eye, I reminded him about the first time he had ridden a pony. At first, he had been scared of the horse. But he faced his fear, and had been so glad that he did.

With that memory in mind, my son walked confidently into the preschool classroom.

When your son is filled with insecurity, it’s time to get on his level. Eye to eye, physical touch, focused attention. Replace the fearful thoughts in his mind with reminders of how he is already the brave man that he needs to be.

To find out more about raising boys to become godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Have you seen the video of the football player who ran the wrong way?

I heard about a man who is coaching his 6-year-old son’s flag football team.

He told me his biggest challenge is getting the players to head in the right direction when they get the ball.

Often their first instinct is to head toward the wrong end zone.

Boys today are missing the moral compass needed when they leave the playing field and enter the game of life.

Fifty-eight percent of Americans no longer believe that God and the Bible are the means for determining morality and truth.

As father figures and mentors, we need to point boys to the truth of God’s Word – the Bible.

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

Parent the boy in front of you.

Books, websites, and friends can be great sources of wisdom for parenting advice. But as you’re listening to others, don’t forget this profound truth– there is no one else on earth who is exactly like your son.

You have been hand selected by God to be your son’s parent. That means there is no one else– no, not even that parenting expert with several degrees– who is better equipped to be the mom or dad your boy needs.

So yes, by all means, seek out Biblically sound parenting advice.  But don’t forget to also spend time in prayer, asking God to give you the specific wisdom you need to make that advice work in the best way for your uniquely created son.

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

Is it more difficult to be a teenaged boy, or a grown adult?

Adult life is stressful. Of course, you have more responsibility than your teen son. But consider this– you also have more freedom, more balanced hormones, and a fully developed brain. Parenting experts say that some of the hardest, most chaotic years of life are between ages 13-18, especially for young men.

Here’s the point. It’s true that your son needs discipline and authority. But don’t forget that what he needs first is love. It’s not easy being a teenage boy, especially in our current society. So the next time you are frustrated with your son, picture yourself at that age. Show him the grace and understanding you so desperately needed back then.

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

Have you had to wait for something recently, or are you still waiting?

With seven games left in the 2022 Major League Baseball regular season, New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge tied Roger Maris for the American League single-season home run record.

With the world watching, Judge had to wait for five more games before finally breaking the record in the next-to-last game.

Psalm 27:14 tells us to “wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage.”

Waiting on the Lord doesn’t mean we don’t have our part to play. Waiting on the Lord is active. It’s preparing our hearts, being ready to serve, and expecting God to provide.

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.”

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

What did you have for breakfast this morning? Around 49% of people had a quick bowl of cereal. Popular brands include Cheerios, Frosted Flakes, and Raisin Bran. Across the country, Americans enjoy over a hundred types of cereal.

That’s a lot of variety, but there are even more ways of parenting kids. That’s why when it comes to raising your son, understanding his personality is vitally important.

Many boys have tons of energy. They love the excitement of sports and outdoor activities. Other kids prefer small groups where they receive individual attention.

Whatever your son’s personality, take time to talk, laugh, and play with him. By spending time together, you’ll better understand how to guide him through childhood to become a godly young man.

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

Life is busy. We all know that. But sometimes it feels as if we have to do everything to keep life running smoothly. We have to drive our kids to sports games, make sure they finish their homework, and tell them for the hundredth time to brush their teeth.

But it’s important to remember that we aren’t the only ones that want to see our kids succeed. Sunday school leaders, classroom teachers, coaches, friends, and many others have our kids’ best interests in mind.

Take a moment to thank the Lord for those people who are investing time and attention in your kids. The more you focus on the positive, the more you’ll see that you’ve got a great support group helping you along life’s parenting journey.

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

A battle is raging—and it’s destroying people’s lives. No, I’m not talking about wars and conflicts scattered across the globe. Rather, I’m referring to the cultural war on gender identity.

Secular activists use words like “toxic masculinity” to shame people into thinking that gender is destructive. But the Bible is clear. God created people either male or female.

As a parent, it’s important you fight back against the bombardment of identity politics. Here’s a tip: Get involved at your school’s Parent Teacher Association. Voice your concern to coaches, teachers, and community leaders. Make sure they respect the differences between boys and girls.

It’s time to take a stand. Because our children’s futures are at stake, it’s time to speak up for truth. But do it in love. The world is full of strident and angry voices. Let yours be seasoned with grace.

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

During Jesus’ day, leprosy was an awful disease that caused horrible deformities.

That’s why when Jesus healed ten lepers, they were thrilled. They probably rushed away to tell the exciting news to their family and friends. And yet, only one leper returned to give thanks to Jesus.

We’re quick to blame those nine lepers, but at times, we’re just as ungrateful. We may not have leprosy, but our Lord still helps and strengthens us in many ways. And he often uses people around us to accomplish His will.

So, when was the last time you said “Thanks” to someone who provided help or encouragement? Remember: The more grateful you are, the more you’ll see God’s goodness and grace in your life.

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

Don’t you wish parenting boys was easy? Wouldn’t it be great if your son always listened carefully, obeyed immediately, and behaved perfectly?

The truth is—that’s rarely the case. When your son tests your patience for the hundredth time in a day, take a deep breath and remember our Savior’s example. When the Pharisees tried to trick him, He responded calmly. When the Jews demanded that He be crucified, he asked God to forgive them.

Training boys takes time. It won’t happen overnight, but through patient and consistent parenting, you’ll see your son grow into a godly young man. And the more he changes spiritually within his heart, the more you’ll see positive change in his outward behavior.

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