I am thrilled to have Jasmine from Far Above Rubies, guest posting for me today! As a mother of 4 boys I am always looking for wisdom on raising these little men for the Lord. Thank you Jasmine for sharing with us!
I’m so thankful that God allowed me to be the mother of boys. As godly and virtuous mothers we have the opportunity to mold souls and rebuild a culture of virtuous boyhood.
Boys need vision. Young men need vision. Dad’s need vision on how to nurture innocence and courage in the lives of their sons. Where there is no vision, boys will perish…Proverbs 29:18
Mothers, too, should understand God’s vision for their boys by praying for clarity and direction to move sons forward toward their natural bent. Mothers should be an instrument of help to their husbands in implementing this vision.
Nurture Innocence and Courage in a boy. Something so beautiful about innocence in little children. Not being exposed to certain things; keeps them pure and innocent. I may caution you not to share excessive information with your young children regarding your past sins. If not handled appropriately and with wisdom, the information shared may open their eyes and minds to evil thoughts.
Also, take great care as to what sons watch, read, and are exposed to through media and bad influences. Make sure your sons have bold and manly friends for the glory of Jesus Christ.
The way a boy plays is the way a boy will live. David was a young shepherd boy of about 12 to 16 years old who attended to his father’s business. That little boy killed fierce and wild animals. He also played musical instruments. He learned how to protect those sheep. He meditated on God’s word. David had a pure heart. He believed in God. He had been fighting the battles that a boy should fight in their youth.
God took everyone of those boyhood experiences and used it in manhood. King David ruled a nation with the skills he learned as a boy.
How little boys should treat little girls.
Dads, if you want to raise virtuous boys – you must teach them to honor ladies. Daddy needs to be an example of a man who covers and honors his wife. Chivalry goes to the heart of Christianity. God called Abraham a covering over Sarah.
A boy should seek the companionship of other boys and not girls. You should treat girls as your sister. A girl is not a boy’s buddy. She is his spiritual sister, if she is a christian. There is a difference between how a boy treats a buddy and a sister.
Boys can have a relationship with girls, but as a sister in a Christianly way. They should treat them with deference and with respect.
A boy should view himself as defender of women and children. That means he’s looking out for the honor of mothers and sisters. He’s looking out for the honor of others.
A boy should always treat a woman with deference and respect. Once upon a time there were certain things that a man wouldn’t talk about in the presence of a woman. Those days are gone because a woman prides herself in the fact that she can take anything a guy can take.
Androgyny goes against God’s design for families. Women, mothers, and wives are distinctly feminine and need to walk in that wonderful truth. Sons need to see femininity carried out in their homes with grace and beauty. Sons also need to see fathers lead, defend, and provide for their families. It is important to instill the differences in God’s design for boy and girl; for man and woman.
We are not the same. And it’s good that we are not…. It’s liberating….
Mother’s must pray everyday for the salvation of their boys (children). They will one day make a decision of whom they will serve. Today is the day of salvation. They must turn their hearts to God.
Father’s must teach the word of God; crying out for the souls of their boys.
A boy must honor his father and mother. Honor is the key to a boy’s success. Unless a boy honors their father and mother things will not go well with them.
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long and well in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12
If fathers and mothers do not instill honor and integrity into a boy’s heart, things will not go well with them and their life will not be long. Lives of disobedient and rebellious children may be cut off. We would do well to train them up in the admonition of the Lord.
“The eye that mocks at his father, and despises to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.” Proverbs 30:17
There are spiritual ravens blinding our sons from what is truthful. To blind them from the truth of what God wants to tell them.
If sons do honor their mother and father, scripture gives promise after promise of blessings and favor. Fathers and Mothers need to train and discipline their boys to honor others. It’s a wonderful thing.
Jasmine is the founder and author of Far Above Rubies, a ministry dedicated to promoting biblical womanhood.
This post was inspired by a teaching shared with me when my own boy was only two years old.
For more resources on raising sons, visit The Vision Forum.