Over the last 6 months, my roly-poly little boy turned into a tall, lanky young man. I can’t even tell you when it happened… it just did. He passed his sister in height a while ago, and recently passed me. Now my son is working his way up to his dad’s height.
As with most mothers, I don’t just want him to grow. I want my son to grow up to be a great man.
I want him to do great things.
I want him to influence many.
I want him to live his faith out loud.
But then one day I came across this quote by an unknown author.
“Don’t wait to make your son a great man- make him great boy.”
I don’t have to wait for someday to come along.
I can start now in the midst of that weird stage when he’s too big for kid sized clothes and too small for men’s clothes to help him grow into a great boy who will in turn grow into a great man.
As daunting as growing a great boy into a man sounds, it is possible. Although I am a mother who is in the trenches of teaching and discipling my children and am by no means an expert on how to raise children, there is one thing I do know. If I follow God’s Word in bringing up my children, I cannot go wrong.
While trying to raise a great boy, I decided to look to what God said about the one Boy who grew up perfectly- His own Son.
Luke 2: 52 says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
If you think about it, those are the four areas we as parents should focus on when bringing up great boys (and girls).
Wisdom- “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action. I want to raise a boy who knows the difference between right and wrong according to God’s Word (not society’s definition) and then allows his actions to be dictated by just judgment.
I don’t what him thinking that “smarts” equal wisdom. Wisdom and knowledge are two entirely different areas of growth. Before knowledge comes into play, I want my son to be wise. Wisdom comes from a heart that seeks after God, knowledge comes from the head.
Stature- “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
As important as it is for my son to grow physically, one thing I want him to remember for himself and for others is that what we look like on the outside is not what matters most. I want him to learn to view others and himself the way God does- by looking at the heart.
I don’t want him to value people based on the brand of clothes they wear. I want him to value their hearts.
I don’t want him to like others solely by their looks. I want him to like them for their personalities.
I don’t want him to be wowed by the pretty girl that shows up in youth group (Lord, help me!). I want him to see her for the young woman that she is based on how she treats those around her.
I don’t want him basing his self-worth on what he sees in the mirror. I want him to know he is “fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)
Favor with God- “For whoso findeth me (wisdom) findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.” Proverbs 8:35
We receive wisdom from reading God’s Word, but when our boys are small (before they can read), they can only hear God’s Word if we are willing to read it to them. Daily Bible reading and teaching is something we have always valued in our home. As they get older, giving our boys the resources to be able to study God’s Word on their own AND continuing to read God’s Word to them need to be coupled together.
My son will only know how to please God by learning it directly from His Word, and I have the privilege of bringing him into the presence of God each time we stop what we are doing to read God’s Word.
When my son was small, we learned how God wants us to behave, act in faith, and show courage by reading about the great heroes in the Bible. He was amazed when God sent ravens to bring Elijah meat at the brook, he smiled from ear to ear as God answered Elijah’s prayer with fire from Heaven, and he loved hearing how David brought down Goliath with a small stone.
Our sons will learn wisdom by learning the lessons from the men and women they read about in the Bible. And as they learn wisdom, they will please God when their actions line up with his Word.
In favor with man- “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Proverbs 16:7
We all want children that others want to be around. When people see my children, I want their instinctive reaction to be joy, not dread.
What qualities are found in children we all want to be around?
Behaviors such as being kind (Eph. 4:32), obeying and honoring parents (Eph. 6:1), and respecting authority (Romans 13) are all qualities that will endear our sons to others. Being a hard worker (Exodus 20:9), honest (Eph. 4:25), and a man of integrity (Proverbs 11:3) will bring him favor with his future employers.
One day, my boy will be a great man. But for now, I’ll enjoy every bit of the boy stage with all of the action figures, Legos, and adventures that come with it. And as I wake up day after day to raise my great children, I will cling to Proverbs 22:6 which says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
May all mother’s hearts desire and seek to instill in their children that which you are with Ian. Happy Birthday Ian!
Thank you, Nancy! <3