Parenting …
Hard yet joyful.
Fulfilling, yet draining.
A high calling, yet a difficult job.
Parenting.
I recently talked about the importance of the scriptural admonition for older women to teach the younger women how to love their husbands, love their children, and to be keepers of the home.
I think there is a powerful reason why the Bible sets the framework for older mothers to encourage younger mothers.
You need the voice of experience rather than a novice voice.
You don’t just need a peer … you need an expert.
Let’s imagine for a minute that your goal was to play the grand piano at Carnegie Hall… you wouldn’t ask for advice from someone who only knows how to play chopsticks on a toy piano.
Or perhaps one of your life dreams has included the desire to be a famous chef at a 5-star restaurant … you wouldn’t remain under the tutelage of someone whose main dish is grilled cheese.
Are you tracking with me?
If you want to be a great mom who raises world-changing kids … you need a mom who has raised a world-changing kid or two.
You need a mom who is realistic—not just idealistic—about what it takes to raise a young man or woman who is filled with faith.
And sometimes you might just need a mom with some battle scars.
So … today … what I would like to share with you is the 10 things that moms must teach their sons.
I think that you would all agree that we live in a world where many men don’t know how to be men of honor and men of faithfulness. We can turn this thing around, moms of boys!
One mother has the power to revolutionize the next generation of men – and you got the job!
1 – Teach your sons the virtue of humility. They don’t need to win every game they play, they don’t need to get a medal in every sport, and they don’t always need to go first. Teach your young men that allowing others to go first is a true badge of honor. Instill in your sons that being puffed up with pride is ugly but that demonstrating humility is appealing. Look up the meaning of the word “humility” and have them commit it to memory.
2 – Teach your sons to let ladies go first, to open the door for others, and to honor the elderly. Instill manners in this boy that God has given you the honor of parenting. Teach him not to burp in public and that private matters should not be discussed in mixed company.
3 – Your sons don’t need another toy, more screen time, or designer athletic shoes. They need you. They need your time, your attention, your coaching, and your heart. They need to pray with you every day.
4 – Teach your son to shake hands with people when he meets them and to introduce himself with cheerfulness and with confidence. “Hi! My name is __________________. It’s so nice to meet you.”
5 – Teach your son to manage his money well. Saving, tithing, and staying on a budget are one of the greatest gifts you can give to his future family.
6 – Teach your son to keep the minor things minor. Don’t allow him to overreact to minor disappointments and small challenges.
7 – Teach your son to dream. Ask him often what he wants to be when he grows up and then cultivate that interest. If he wants to be a missionary—study other cultures and languages. If he wants to be a fireman—take a visit to a fire station. If he wants to be a pastor—have your pastor over to the home for dinner. If he wants to be a businessman—have him start a lawn mowing business at a young age.
8 – Talk about the dating years with your son before he is even close to being interested in girls. Teach him to honor young ladies with his words, his thought life, and his physical response. Be involved in helping him to set boundaries in his affections with a young lady.
9 – Teach your son to be faithful and to keep his word. If he says that he is going to do something then he must follow through. If he borrows money—he must pay it back. If he makes a commitment—his word is his bond. We live in a day and age where people don’t value faithfulness and the power of telling the truth. Instill in your future man that truth is more valuable than gold, an Ivy-League education, or winning a world championship.
10 – Encourage your son to read the Bible every day. If he can grab a vision for the power of the Word of God—you will have done your job, dear Mom. The Bible is able to do what you are not able to do. The Holy Spirit is able to speak to your son when you are far away. You will never give him a greater gift than the gift of loving God’s Holy Word.
Thanks for listening to my heart this week. As you know by now, my heart is truly not a perfect heart, but it is a heart filled to overflowing with gratitude for the life I have been given and for the people who walk with me. And, it continues to be a heart that is relentlessly chasing after God and all that He is!
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on https://www.carolmcleodministries.com/joyforthejourney/10-things-that-moms-must-teach-their-sons.
Featured Image by Annie Spratt
