Here’s a new prescription for your glasses…

A comedy group once posted a fake commercial online for a device called “husband glasses.” When a wife put on the glasses, she no longer noticed the clutter in their home– but she could see a deer out of their window quite well.

That satire video points out an interesting truth. Starting from a very young age, boys and girls see the world quite differently. While girls focus on details, boys tend to be more skilled in noticing things that are far away– making them better hunters and protectors.

So, as a parent, be sure to put on your “son,” S-O-N, glasses. Give your son grace when he misses details. And encourage him to hone his visual strengths through outdoor activities— like archery or birdwatching.

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

Sometimes a country music lyric just nails it.

In 1999, a unique song was released on country radio. It wasn’t about trucks or dirt roads– it was about the relationship between a loving stepfather and a stepson.

To everyone’s surprise, the song reached number one on the country charts. The key lyric, sang by artist Brad Paisley, reads:  “I hope I’m at least half the dad that he didn’t have to be.”

You may not have a biological son. But every young man longs to be mentored, invested-in, and listened-to– not out of obligation, but simply out of love. Be prayerful about finding a boy in your church or your extended family who needs a dad-like figure to show him that he is worthy– just like the young man in that famous song.

To learn about raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Henry David Thoroeau once said, “I go a-fishing and a-hunting every day, but omit the fish and the game, which are the least important part. I have learned to do without them.”

Even when our fishing lines are slack and our deer tags are unfulfilled, we men have been wired by our Creator to need challenge and adventure.  And boys today are no exception.

Each week, help your son find a new activity to tackle. It doesn’t have to be hunting or fishing– it could be trying a complicated recipe, seeking out unique coins, or attending a class on weather watching. Trust me– the result won’t matter much to your boy. He needs adventure simply for the sake of adventure.

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

You wouldn’t eat a raw potato, of course. But what if you chopped that potato up, and put it in hot oil for several minutes? You would have delicious, golden french fries.

As parents, we want our sons to have the happiest life possible, free of things that are risky or hurtful. We often wish we could take away every obstacle in our boy’s way so that he can accomplish all of his dreams.

But don’t be afraid to let your son fail, whether that means falling while trying a new skateboard trick, or not getting into the prestigious college he applied to. Just as hot oil changes a potato for good, difficult circumstances can transform your son into the person God created him to be.

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

In 1962, the Soviet Union was winning the Space Race. To inspire the nation, President Kennedy announced, “We choose to go to the Moon.” He admitted that this wouldn’t be easy, but that we would succeed.

President Kennedy was right. Achievement is built on the backbone of hard work. But it’s competition that spurs us to even greater heights of progress. That’s why it’s unfortunate that today’s socialistic society tells parents that competition harms a boy’s self-esteem when they lose.

Even though losing isn’t fun, it’s by trudging through the valleys of loss that we can then enjoy the mountaintops of victory. By inspiring your son to conquer obstacles, he’ll develop the knowledge, skills, and fortitude to succeed in life.

To learn more about growing boys into godly men, download the free ebook Raising Godly Boys: A Proven Process at Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com. 

Every night, you make sure your phone is plugged into its charger. If you forget, you know that your phone won’t last through the next day.

Your son is much the same way. If you don’t make sure his “battery” is charged at home, he will struggle to sit still and focus while he is at school.

Make sure your boy has plenty of opportunities each day to do fun and fulfilling things. Create an obstacle course for him in the backyard. Give him a bunch of cardboard boxes and help him build a fort. Take him for a long bike ride.

Chores and school are important, but let your boy be a boy. Then he will be “fully charged” to tackle life.

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

Every night, you make sure your phone is plugged into its charger. If you forget, you know that your phone won’t last through the next day.

Your son is much the same way. If you don’t make sure his “battery” is charged at home, he will struggle to sit still and focus while he is at school.

Make sure your boy has plenty of opportunities each day to do fun and fulfilling things. Create an obstacle course for him in the backyard. Give him a bunch of cardboard boxes and help him build a fort. Take him for a long bike ride.

Chores and school are important, but let your boy be a boy. Then he will be “fully charged” to tackle life.

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

The USS Gerald R. Ford is America’s newest aircraft carrier. It’s longer than 3 football fields and taller than a 24-story building. But when this massive ship needs to stay in place, it relies on a 30,000-pound anchor.

In life, your son doesn’t need a physical anchor, but he does need to be grounded in God’s Word. Today’s anti-Christian culture will try to make him believe that choices of morality, truth, and gender are defined by each person. But by being well grounded in Scripture, he can defend his faith and stand firm against the cultural currents of the day.

Hebrews 6:19 is an excellent reminder that Jesus is the “anchor of our soul.”

To learn more about growing boys into godly men, download the free resource Raising Godly Boys: A Proven Process at Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

A young man was on his first river rafting trip with a group of friends. As he paddled through the rapids, he glanced at the shore and was surprised to see his dad, waving and cheering the group on.

Later on, he saw his father again, standing on the shore, shouting encouragement. The boy realized that his dad was running along the shore and waiting at each section of rapids to cheer his son on. The boy couldn’t stop smiling.

As parents, we often feel like we are failing our sons. But our boys don’t need perfection. All they need is to know they are worth going the extra mile for. How can you show your son that kind of Christlike love today?

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

Today’s boys seem busier than ever. They dart from one activity to another, and yet remain confused and unguided. Why is that?

Consider, for a moment, the Falcon 9 rocket. It launches astronauts into space at more than 17,000 miles per hour! But if the rocket doesn’t go the right direction, the mission is doomed.
That’s why guidance and navigation systems are so important. They keep the rocket steady as it soars toward its destination.

As a parent, are you providing your son the guidance he needs to grow emotionally, socially, and spiritually? By spending one-on-one time with him, you show him—through action—how to soar toward success.

To learn more about growing boys into godly men, download the free ebook Raising Godly Boys: A Proven Process at Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.