#1181: Paddle Forward

Your son is enjoying a day kayaking down a river. Suddenly, he hears rushing water, and sees rapids up ahead. His heart beats fast, and he begins to paddle forward, right into the waves. In life, watching your son head straight into challenging territory can be a frightening and stressful experience. But there’s a reason God wired boys to crave adventure, excitement, and risk. Child development specialists have found that taking risks is an essential part of growing up, and gives boys excellent coping skills, self confidence, and the ability to fail well. So don’t be afraid. Equip your son with knowledge, say a prayer, and let him paddle forward. On the other side of those rapids is an amazing opportunity. For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.