• Seventy percent of all D’s and F’s are given to boys.
• Eight-five percent of stimulant drugs prescribed throughout the world are prescribed to American boys.
• Boys have fallen behind girls in virtually every area of education.
• According to The Demise of Guys, one in three boys is now considered a “heavy” porn user, with the average boy watching nearly two hours of porn every week.
• Some 40 percent of boys will spend at least a part of their growing up years without a dad.
• Seventy to ninety percent of all boys leave the church in their teens and early twenties . . . and most will not return.

Staggering, isn’t it? As the mother of two boys, I take this very seriously.  There are few things in this world more special and difficult to describe than the relationship a mom has with her son.  There are few things in this world more vital and powerful than the relationship a dad has with his son.

I know that our boys are a breed all their own.  They have more energy than should be legal.  They question things and have a need to understand.  They explore…like Simba in the Lion King…they want to know what lies beyond the borders.  They climb trees and fences.  They have spitting contests.  Our boys test their limits and think they are invincible.  They have eternity placed in their hearts and have an adventure to live.   I love that I can look into the eyes of my boys and almost read their thoughts as if scrolling across a screen.  Boys will be boys and they are amazing.

However,, as a culture we are failing our boys to assume that “boys will be boys” translates to “boys will be bad boys.”   I have watched over the years as adults assume that boys are rude, unruly, uncontrolled, and misbehaving simply because there are three or four 14-year old boys together in a mall or hotel lobby.  We assume that boys will sleep around, drink alcohol, and smoke pot.  The assumption is that simply by being a teenage male, you are up to no good.

The Lord has placed within the heart of young men a desire to chase a dream, conquer, fight for justice, reach for the goal, run faster, lift more, be a superhero, advance the Kingdom…He has placed a desire in their hearts to try and catch Him…to run hard after Him.  All of which is good, powerful, beautiful, and holy.  All of which, without self-control, humility, and compassion will destroy them.

But, should they learn to cover all the beautiful things that encompass their masculinity with self-control, humility, and compassion, we have the perfect storm.  Our young men will achieve adventure, advance the Kingdom, and have their own REAL relationship with the Father–AND change the world.

The goal is not to temper or feminize our young men; the goal is to allow the His Spirit to shape their masculinity into a heart full of life, adventure, and strength, controlled by their 100% sold-out hearts to Him.

Boys will be boys…and I love it!

My love,