It’s been said that unforgiveness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.

When we choose not to forgive, it hurts us, not just the person who has hurt us.

Jesus said a lot about forgiveness in the Bible.

He taught, “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.” When Peter asked Jesus how often it is necessary to forgive, he replied, “Seventy times seven,” a number to be taken symbolically, not literally, for the never-ending way we should forgive.

Who do you need to forgive? Perhaps it’s yourself. Do yourself a favor by “letting it go” and teach your boys to do the same.

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

This Mother’s Day, minister to a single mom of a son.

Every single mom is a hero. And single moms who have boys? They should wear capes. Raising a boy– who needs a ton of exercise, outdoor activity, focused attention, and healthy risk taking– is a joy, but can be exhausting.

If you don’t know a single mom, ask a local church about their single moms ministry– they will be able to give you some names. Then, pray about the best gift to give. Some ideas are an anonymous check, a grocery gift card, or a coffee gift card. And if you know her well, offer to take her son on a fun outing. You won’t only be giving her a break, but her son will appreciate the extra attention.

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

What’s the first thing you do when you or your child is struggling with something?

Is it to pray?

Prayer should be our first response, not our last resort.

There is power in prayer.

Stormie Omartian (stor·mee ow·maar·tee·uhn) writes this in her book The Power of a Praying Parent:

“When we pray, we bring that power to bear upon everything we are praying about, and we allow the power of God to work through our powerlessness. When we pray, we are humbling ourselves before God and saying, “I need Your presence and Your power, Lord. I can’t do this without You.” When we don’t pray, it’s like saying we have no need of anything outside of ourselves.”

Let’s be “first responders” when it comes to prayer.

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

When it comes to toilet paper placement, do you prefer the paper to flow over or under the roll? Well, according to recent surveys, around 70% of Americans prefer the toilet paper to roll over the top.

This may not seem like a big deal, but for some people, toilet paper placement causes controversy, chaos, and conflict.

We laugh at such pettiness, but the truth is we often major on the minor things in life. Do you get bent out of shape if your son taps his foot at the table or chews too loudly?

Don’t let tiny annoyances flush your patience down the toilet. By staying focused on what really matters in life, you’ll be on a “roll” in helping your son grow into a godly young man.

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

If you don’t give your son a challenge, he will challenge you.

Julie was frustrated that her teenage son, Tyler, wouldn’t help with any chores around the house. But when Tyler’s dad asked him to repair the fence in the backyard, Tyler jumped at the opportunity. Why?

Boys are uniquely wired to crave adventure. So much so that they often lose motivation when things are too easy or simple. This is why many extremely intelligent children often struggle in school– simply because of boredom.

If your son is being defiant with you, consider giving him an even greater, more complicated responsibility. Bonus points if it involves an outdoor activity!  It may seem counterintuitive, but without a mountain in his life,your son will try to conquer you.

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

Have you watched the track and field events at the Summer Olympic Games?

The training that goes into running a marathon is much different than what a runner needs to do to prepare for a 100-yard dash. 

Raising godly boys is more like a marathon than a sprint.

Parenting is a lifelong process filled with seemingly insignificant moments.

We must take advantage of every opportunity God gives us, whether it’s the car ride to and from school or tucking them into bed at night.

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7

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

Is social media hurting your son’s self-esteem?

Social networks often create unreasonable expectations of what a man is. And because of that, boys may look at their flaws and failures and think that they’re not good enough.
 
As a dad, remind your son that even great men from the Bible experienced physical and spiritual weaknesses. Moses stuttered. Jacob was a cheater. Elijah wrestled with depression. And the apostle Peter had a temper. The list could go on and on.

Fortunately, 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Despite our flaws and failures, God sees our potential. In fact, He can take our weaknesses and transform them into something amazing—something beyond our wildest expectations.

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

No one wants to think about death, but if you’re a Christian, you know that Christ has conquered the grave. Still, at some point, physical death will separate us from our loved ones. The question is: What kind of legacy will you leave behind. How will your children remember you?

Billy Graham, one of the most widely known evangelists of the 20th century, said, “The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is a legacy of character and faith.”

There’s nothing wrong in being remembered for your work accomplishments or athletic abilities. But, in the end, your kids will most appreciate the time and attention you invested in their lives.

Life is incredibly short. Are you building a legacy of character and faith?

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

Have you ever asked yourself, “What does God want my son to see that he is not seeing, and how can I help him see it?”

Because sin is deceptive, it can blind your son to the sin in his own heart. Let’s look for chances to be a tool to help him see it.

When you help him see what motivates his desires and actions, you are doing what God has called you to do as a parent.

Parenting is not about getting your son to do the right thing, but helping them to see so that he wants to do the right thing. This type of sightseeing is key to fostering lasting life change in your children.

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

Have you ever found something you thought you had lost forever? How did it feel?

Imagine completing a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle, except for one missing piece. You could look everywhere until you give up hope of ever finding the piece, only to have it turn up when you aren’t looking for it a few weeks later. Imagine how excited you’d be to finally complete the puzzle.

In Luke 15, Jesus talks about several lost things – a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son – that were all found.

I’m thankful that God never gives up on the lost, and we need to do the same with boys who have seemingly lost their way.

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