The Joys of Raising Boys

Someone asked me the other day, "How did you raise such awesome Christian boys?" I couldn't give her an immediate answer. I was pleased that she respected my boys for their Christain character. I was honored that she looked to me as one who was partially instrumental in their outcome. But, I had no ready answer to give her. I just shared with her the one thing I had done faithfully for them, throughout their entire lives--I prayed for them. Alot. Still do.

But, this started me to thinkin'. What WERE some of the things I did with my boys that helped shape them into the young men they have become?

So, I decided to make a list.

First, let me set the record straight. I will never be able to take full credit for how our boys have turned out. My husband has been very much involved in their lives. Personally, I feel he has been a more positive influence on them than I have, and he certainly deserves more credit for their outcome than I do.

He has been a WONDERFUL dad--still is!

Growing up he took them fishing, hiking, hunting, and camping a lot. He played football, baseball, basketball, soccer...just about every sport there is...he played with them. And he loved doing it. And he rarely said "no" when they wanted him to play. He spent TIME with them.

Okay, now for that list...

• Show him you love him, tell him too. Everyday.

• Let him play in the mud...and get dirty. For heaven's sake, he's a boy!

• Listen to him. Encourage him to talk about his feelings.

• Let him know---it's OKAY to cry.

• Tell him he's a warrior. Because he is!

• Give him boundaries, but be fair. He will be more secure because of it.

• Chores are a must. Show him how to do them. But, don't redo his work if it doesn't measure up to your standards. He will learn with loving encouragement.

• Take time to play games, to watch the clouds and count the stars.

• Read to him from God's Word.

• Don't forget to teach him chivalry. It's important for him learn how to treat a lady like a queen, then for him, a queen she will be.

• Teach him to "hide God's word in his heart"--early on.

• Allow him to make mistakes. God must mold and shape him--after all, He is the Chief Potter, not you.

• Let him know, you're not perfect. We all make mistakes, but we learn from them.

• Love his daddy!

• Provide a warm, welcoming home--where he will want to bring his friends.

• Entrust him to God.

• Realize this: God gave him to you for a season. When that season is over, give him wings and LET HIM GO.

• NEVER stop praying for him!

Need Your Prayers

Don't have much time to give a lot of details, but wanted to request your prayers for my mother. All went well with her knee surgery on July 2nd. We then transferred her to our local hospital for rehab. The day after she arrived, it was discovered she had a bowel obstruction. They did surgery on the 6th, had to do a re-section. She seemed to be regaining function until this past Tuesday. Wednesday morning, tests revealed that she had yet another obstruction, but it was not clear on her CT scan how extensive because she was unable to drink all of the contrast. The decision was made to put a nasogastric tube down and just 'wait and see' if this resolves without surgical intervention. Another surgery, especially at this point, is VERY risky.

I am presently 'going it alone' in making all decisions concerning her treatment. Needless to say, I'm growing a little weary.

Appreciate your prayers!

Let's Get Goin'

This morning we talked with M on Skype. He seems so happy! Just yesterday, he was able to share Christ with his roommate's brother and his heart was tender and ready to believe. It's the neatest thing--to see how God is using M. Nearly everyday he goes to the university and plays basketball and/or soccer with the students and some evenings they come to his place to hang out and study scripture. He gets to know the students by going to the places where they congregate, by learning their language and their culture. By rubbing shoulders with them as they do life.

As we were talking with M, I thought to myself, he's actually doing what I believe God longs for all of us to do.

...to be the church WHEREVER we are.

Maybe we need to remind ourselves that the church is not the building down the street with the towering steeple.

WE, as believers in Jesus Christ, ARE the church.

Brothers and Sisters in Chirst...that's you...and me.

He placed us here to minister to people in our everyday lives. Not just when congregate with our fellow believers in our home church on Sunday. But everyday. Everywhere we go---the grocery store, the mall, at work, the coffee shop, the gym, in our neighborhoods...

Okay, you say--I can handle that.

BUT, there's more.

We need to get off of our comfy sofas and move on out into our communities and into the world...and minister to people.

And not JUST the one's YOU want to minister to.

I'm talkin' about the homeless, the poor, the single mother, the adulteress, the drug addict, the homosexual, the alcoholic, the pregnant teen, the handicapped, the mentally ill...

Don't you think HE would go to these people? Then shouldn't we?

HE chose me. And HE chose you, too.

To be His hands. His feet.

Let's get goin'.

~P