Jesus’ mother was Mary.
The prophet Samuel’s mother was Hannah.
King David’s mother?
The Bible doesn’t tell us, but she must have had tremendous insight into how boys become men because she didn’t rescue her son from risk. David was a teenager when he conquered Goliath relying on strength and trust in the Lord he developed in the field. First Samuel 17:34-36 says:
“But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.’”
Clearly, David’s mother didn’t hover over him to ensure that he never scraped his knee or got his feelings hurt. She allowed him to be challenged, to stumble, to fall, and to rise up again and move forward with greater strength and confidence.
Satan seeks to kill, steal, and destroy a teenage boy’s heart. When he does, moms must be willing to step back and allow God to use those challenges to teach him how to fight life’s giants through faith. Mom is there to guard, but not to rescue; to guide, but not to control. Moms aren’t supposed to protect who their sons are, but to point them toward the men they can one day become.
How?
On our “Best of 2021” Focus on the Family Broadcast “Mothers and Sons: Being a Godly Influence,” author Rhonda Stoppe is with us to offer encouragement and practical help to moms who want to raise good and godly men.
Hear the program on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or on our free phone app.
Our discussion centers on Rhonda’s book Moms Raising Sons to Be Men, which is available from Focus for a gift of any amount. For more information, call 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459) or visit our website.
While you’re online, I encourage you to take a free parenting assessment at our website, which will quickly give you an overview of how your family is doing in several key areas and offer some suggestions on how you can improve the relationships in your home.
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