We all want our boys to become good, hard-working, intelligent, kind, happy people. But we want more than this don’t we? We want them to become men; men who possess all these qualities and more. What parent would ever say “I don’t really care whether my boy becomes a man just as long as he’s a good person?” The road for boys leads toward manhood. It’s important for men to consider what fathers do for their sons to help them along that road.
On the journey to manhood, boys need to be a part of a mission bigger than themselves. They need significant challenges. They need men who can cast vision, celebrate milestones, and help them see who they can become. In the midst of Coronavirus shut-downs and virtual meetings, a group of leaders in Trail Life Troop TX-1160 were able to help the boys in their community dream and accomplish just such a project.
"Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
- Romans 5:3-4
The weather on the mountain was brutal. The windchill was at four degrees below zero. Forty mile per hour winds hurled snow and ice pellets straight down the mountain. Whiteout conditions had set in. One climber after another passed us coming down the mountain saying it was impossible to continue. They were turning back.
Memorial Day
Wallace Bruce (1844-1914)
I come with chaplet woven new
From May-day flowers, to fade away;
You come to-night, brave boys in blue,
With record bright, to last for aye.
"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning, but for children, play is serious learning.”
-Fred Rogers
Across the country schools are closing for the duration of the year leaving many parents feeling anxious about educating their children at home, and managing the extra down-time without the flurry of activities and sports that have become part of summertime in America. The truth is, this extra time at home may be just what your child needs.
1. Cultivate Relationships
Boys need dads who remember the world of backyard matchbox cars. Who can recall the time when dirt roads were carved from mulch beds, rocks became doughnut shops, cars drove to the tops of trees, and perils awaited in the grass jungles.
"Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray."
Luke 5:16
My master was a Man, who knew
The rush of rain, the drip of dew,
The wistful whisper of the breeze,
Night's magic and its mysteries.
Boyhood is a time of daring adventure, exploration, action and personal growth – that’s why adventure is a fundamental part of Trail Life’s mission. Adventure is a terrific way to capture the heart of a boy and teach important life lessons. Boys need godly men to lead the way. A boy without a mentor showing him the way is like an explorer without a compass, without a map.
