Raising Godly Boys Minute Trail Life USA

Boys love the story of David and Goliath. Afterall, anytime there’s a battle involving giants with swords, it’s sure to capture attention.

But too often, boys fail to apply important lessons from David’s life. Before David defeated Goliath, he had learned to depend on God when battling lions that attacked his sheep. By relying on God in these smaller tests of faith, David had confidence that God would help him no matter what giant situation came his way.

What giants are your son facing? At school, is he struggling academically? Are bullies harassing him? Does he know how to navigate peer pressure?

The more your son understands that true strength comes from God—for both the small and big stuff—the more victorious he will be in life.

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

Two of the most difficult words for a parent to say are, “I’m sorry.” Are you saying them enough?

As parents, we should ask for forgiveness from our kids if we lose our temper, or don’t control our tongue, or if we jump to conclusions without gathering the necessary facts.

The difficulty is that we can feel vulnerable, inadequate, and even slightly humiliated when apologizing.

But here’s the truth: Your son or daughter will grow to love and respect you even more if you apologize. Humbling yourself demonstrates—through action—a love so strong that you are willing to admit wrong in order to restore the relationship.

Saying sorry isn’t easy, but your example goes a long way in helping your children see what true spiritual maturity looks like.

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

Glance into your purse or wallet and you’ll probably see a few dollar bills. Written on those dollar bills are these words: In God We Trust.

It’s nice having that motto on our coins and bills—but it’s even more important to demonstrate that motto in our lives … that we teach this to our sons.

Has your son trusted in Jesus as his Savior? If so, are you teaching him the importance of trusting in the Lord for daily guidance?

Proverbs 3:5 says,
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”

Parenting is full of challenges. But when we trust in God, He promises to provide strength and help in time of need.

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

Boys love football.

And these days, a great benefit of watching football on TV is the instant replay. You can re-watch—and practically relive—those exciting catches, fumbles, and interceptions.

The instant replay is fantastic. But in real life, there is no “redo”. You get only one chance to raise your son through his adolescent years.

But what if you haven’t trained your son as well as you wish you had? If that’s the case, take heart.

C.S. Lewis said,
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

As a parent, you don’t get to redo your child’s youth. Because of that, make each play count so that in the end, you score a win for the glory of God.

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

When Benjamin Franklin’s name is mentioned, kids think of the guy who placed a metal key on a kite string.

But adults recognize Benjamin Franklin as one of America’s most important Founding Fathers. In addition to helping to write the Declaration of Independence, he also had great advice about the learning process.

He said,
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

Kids learn in different ways, but boys—especially—benefit from physical involvement. It’s one thing to tell a boy how to do something. But having him actually do it helps him remember and apply the lesson in a much more effective way.

For information about how to help boys learn and grow into godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

When you’re expecting a baby, you’re filled with dreams of how extraordinary your child will eventually become. But if your son has special needs or experiences developmental delays, you dream about him functioning in an ordinary way.

The expectations we have for our children don’t always turn out the way we wish. During these times, it’s easy to become angry, frustrated, and bitter.

When these emotions begin swirling through your mind, return your focus to the God of all comfort. Remember that God selected you as a parent for a specific reason. And because He chose you, He will equip you for the task at hand.

It’s also helpful to receive encouragement throughout the parenting journey. Trail Life USA has a Proven Process that is helping boys grow into godly men. Learn more at Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.