What does a cactus have to do with your son?

The saguaro cactus is an amazing desert plant. It stretches high into the air like a telephone pole, reaching heights of 40 feet or more.

But did you know that this colossal cactus grows slowly? It isn’t unusual for it to be 2-inches tall on its 10th birthday. Soon after, the saguaro begins growing faster and keeps up this steady growth until eventually towering over other cacti species.

Maybe your son is like the saguaro. Maybe he’s a slow learner at home or at school. Sure, it’s fine to get your son extra tutoring help, but it’s important to realize that we all have different rates of physical, mental, social, and even spiritual growth. The key is to continue growing—little by little and day by day.

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

How do YOU feel about … puzzles?

When putting together a 500-piece puzzle, you don’t normally complete it all at one time. You work on it a few minutes here and a few minutes there. But gradually, the pieces start coming together until—at long last—you see the entire puzzle in all its glory.

Too often, we expect our children to mature faster than what is realistic. We wish to see the entire picture of their youth from the very start. But the growth process doesn’t work that way. God’s picture for our children’s lives is assembled one piece at a time. Clear communication fits into instruction, and quality time fits into encouragement.

As we rely on God for guidance, He transforms the pieces of our children’s lives into a beautiful masterpiece.

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

How’s your balance? And I'm not talking about your checkbook!

In June of 2012, Nik Wallenda walked from the United States’ side of Niagara Falls to the Canadian side. Sounds easy, until you realize that he walked high above the raging waterfalls on a 2-inch tightrope.

Even though Wallenda held a 40-foot balancing pole in his hands, gusts of wind and swirling spray made the long crossing mentally and physically exhausting.

At times, parents feel almost as much stress as a daredevil on a tightrope. We have to balance jobs and home responsibilities with our children’s academic studies, sports programs, and other activities.

When you start feeling off balance, remember Ecclesiastes 3:1. It says, “To everything there is a season.” This reminds us to take one task at a time, and to rely on God for continued strength and balance.

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

What do Grammy-award winning artist Jay-Z, former President George Washington, and Olympic medalist Michael Phelps all have in common?

All three men were raised by single parents. 

Today, about forty percent of boys are also raised solely by their mother– an epidemic that continues to grow. If you’re one of those hero single parents, do not lose heart. God sees you and knows the challenges you face.

If you’re not a single parent, look for young men in your life who need a father-figure. A game of catch, a fishing trip, or encouragement from the stands at a track meet can make a life-changing difference.

Who knows? You might just be cheering on a future music star, president, or Olympic medalist.

To learn about the 5 Critical Needs of boys, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

A battle rages—and boys are on the front lines. They are daily bombarded by anti-Christian philosophies:

Relativism—disrupts truth and biblical morality,

Humanism—teaches that a person must depend on himself, not God, if this is true, then why do we even need God?

And evolution—teaches that we evolved by mere chance, the very existence of a loving Creator is ridiculed.

Don’t let these worldly philosophies destroy your son’s faith in Christ. Teach him to stand on the solid Word of God.

Training your son in today’s secular culture isn’t easy. It requires time and attention. Learn about a Proven Process that can help you accomplish this. Visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com for free downloadable resources.

When you were a kid, did you ever play with transformers?

Boys love the way those cars and trucks transform into really cool robots. Plus, the storyline of Autobots battling it out against the evil Decepticons is exciting.

You probably don’t play with transformers anymore, but in some ways, you’re still like a transformer. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Are you teaching your son to stand strong against the world’s deceit? Victory over evil is only possible when we allow the Lord to transform our hearts and minds.

So, how’s that transformation process coming along? Take time today to pray and read the Bible with your son. Together, you both can transform into something extraordinary.

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

Have you ever walked across a rickety bridge and wondered if it could manage the weight?

If you are carrying something heavy that fear can be very real.

Carrying truth can be like that. Especially when you are carrying truth to a boy.

Make sure the bridge -- your connection to that boy -- is strong enough to carry the weight of that truth.

The reality with boys, particularly teens, is that simply telling them the truth isn’t enough. You’ve got to have a connection -- a bridge -- strong enough to carry that truth for the truth to have its full impact, otherwise, you are just breaking bridges.

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

Everyone loves a good comeback story, so here’s one for you– paper maps are making a resurgence!

With digital maps built into many of our cars, you would think paper map sales would continue to fall. But people are realizing that print maps are more helpful than GPS when you’re trying to learn the best way to navigate a new area.

This concept reminds me of why young men today so desperately need male mentors. Sure, your son can observe successful men on social media or on video. But in order to understand what it means to be a man, an in-person, dad-like figure in his life is the map that every young man needs.

So, make sure that boy has a mentor? And get a paper map!

Now if only I can figure out how to fold the thing!

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

“Sit still!”

These words are a death sentence to a little boy's morale. 

There are times when boys need to sit still, like at a dentist's office. 

But much of the time we demand they sit still for our convenience, not their good. 
At home when families read or at school during lessons, boys are told to bottle up their God-given energy and focus. They run the risk of getting in trouble when they don’t. 

This is unfair, especially in light of simple solutions.

When you read with your son, let him fidget with something or even pace the room. If he can’t sit still, take him outside a few minutes to play and try again. 
Don’t demand their attention without giving them an outlet for their energy.

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

Ahhh … vacation!

Do you remember the last time you went on vacation? Before leaving, you probably spent time thinking about what clothes and other items you’d need at your destination. Then you probably gathered all those things together and packed them into a suitcase.

On this journey called parenthood, it’s even more important to bring everything necessary. Begin by packing love. Next, fold in joy. After that, squeeze in humor, laughter, and a bunch of fun. And, of course, don’t forget to include patience, gratitude, and forgiveness. This is just the beginning.

Make sure you come up with your own packing list as you journey through the hills and valleys of parenthood.

To help you along the way, Trail Life USA has fun and exciting programs that are helping boys grow into godly men. For more information, visit RaisingGodlyBoys.com.