Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Raising Up Men



"It's likewise important for women to remember that they are raising boys, not little copies of themselves. This can be taken too far, when we accept a lack of control as boyishness. But we don't want to raise a nation of sissies either. 

We don't justify disobedience, a lack of patience, a lack of discipline of the grounds that the child is a boy. But neither do we put the poor child in a skirt. We want boys to grow into an outward-looking, jungle-taming approach to life."



--By R.C Sproul Jr., When You Rise Up--A Covenantal Approach to Homeschooling




(Artwork by Greg Olsen; entitled
Imagination: The Final Frontier)




11 comments:

Brenda said...

It will be a challenge for me when and if God blesses us with a son. It is a different task than raising daughters. We so often say we are raising "kids" or "children" but really, they are 2 different tasks--raising godly men and raising godly women.
And I think homeschooling mamas particularly struggle with challenging their boys into manhood.

Michelle Maddocks said...

This is why Godly men are so important in boys' lives, isn't it? Thank you for sharing this quote; we need to keep these thoughts in our minds always.

The Proverbs Wife said...

This is a subject that I have been discussing with my husband lately. I've told him of my concernes for raising our sons. I love them dearly and coddle, snuggle comfort and sweeten them up. I told him that I may be making them become to sensitive.

We discuss him taking the reigns in rearing them more. Spending more time with them doing masculine things. Especially with my 7 y.o. I think that I still have a few more years of coddle time with my 4 y.o.

Great post as always.

Martha said...

Very Good. I once had a person tell me that Mothers could not get onto and correct a boy after the age of 10 because that was an insult to his masculinity. (I thought it actually was down right scary to think of what this boy would turn out like). Yet, I totally agree that we as Mom's need to be extra careful in raising our little boys to have the character to become a Godly man and not a "Mommy's boy"

Thanks for the reminder.

Happy New Year to you and your family,
~Jane

Abbi said...

What a great reminder. The balance of them being boys but not being out of control is one that I think needs a lot of prayer!!

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

Ah, yes, a challenge indeed! As a mom of teenage girls and now a seven year old boy I am seeing the distinct differences in raising boys. Of course there are always fundamental things that stay the same, manners, growing in Christ, decency, obedience, etc. but boys need to grow up to be men! That is a challenge for sure. I am so blessed to have a husband who understands this and he is raising his son to be one of the MEN. And I am doing my part to make sure he turns into a man that will someday make his wife a very happy woman! Awesome responsibility!
Blessings,
Melissa

Anonymous said...

THanks for the comment on my blog. I am richly blessed by two beautiful little girls. I love them so much! I hope to have more...I see you have 8. Amazing! What is it like raising 8 children in our society today? I want a large family, but when I tell others that they think I am a little crazy.

The Passionate Housewife said...

Parents are so worried now a days of their boys becoming too violent that they squelch so much of that which is natural in a little boy. They need to be a little rough and tumble. Boys desire to be just like one of "Davids mighty men" but its up to us as parents to instill in them hearts for God just like David had.

Miss Rebekah Ann S. said...

Amen! This is definitely how I'll be raising my own sons someday(Lord willing).

Anonymous said...

This is so very true and something I must be aware of constantly in rearing my 4 little boys! Thank you!!! You are as a blessing as always!

ripcurl said...

As a mother of two daughters, 19 and 20 years old and 6 boys in a row ..I want to encourage you all that God is faithful.By His Grace, my boys ages 17 down to 5 are precious men of God. they are all MEN. I grew up with sisters and only wanted girls but God knew what I needed. he brought me to the place in my mothering that I could do nothing without Him. Now I can see the fruit of praying and trusting Him to teach me dependence upon Him and not to be afraid when my husband is tough... as boys need to have an iron hand from daddy covered with a velvet glove. trust your heavenly Father. I can't believe how precious it is to homeschool big boys and young men who love the Lord and want to serve Him. ladies, be faithful. There is not much help for us homeschool moms for raising boys. so much of what is said ( from Doug Philips and others) is coming from men that stay home and minister to their families. My husband works a full-time job outside the home. You must pray all day for wisdom and Grace. Don't buy in to the delusion that daddy needs to do " daily- devotions" and a "math wheel" and "science" and whatever else your dream is. He is probably exhausted and needs to come home to a haven. Train those boys by loving and serving your King of the house. They will respect you for it...and learn. Children are the same...boys and girls. They just need a mommy honoring daddy and daddy loving mommy just like His Word teaches. Don't make it more complicated than it is. Blessings to all of you. p.S. Doug Philips was a disciple of my dads ministry from the time he was 12 years old. I truly love and respect his teaching. I just think it can be a delusion to expect so much from our husbands who maybe havent even had any role-models themselves. ladies, get some back-bone and train those boys!! just a word of encouraement from someone who is right there with you.

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