Welcome to my monthly feature, “Backseat Conversations” – A car ride, a captive audience and a chance to make the most of the time we are given…real-life conversations with my boys about life and faith.
As we drove to visit my family one weekend, my sister’s fiancée became the topic of conversation.
He works in law enforcement.
“I’m going to be a police officer like him when I grow up.”
A very noble aspiration, but I was curious about Big J’s reasoning.
“That is wonderful – why do you want to do that?”
“Because he is tall and brave.”
He is 6’4”. No one in our immediate family is above 6’0”.
“He IS very brave, isn’t he? But you know you don’t have to be tall to be brave, right?”
“I don’t?”
I love open doors from God like this.
And I also love God’s tendency to use the underdog, the unlikely hero, the brave but NOT so tall, to do the amazing and miraculous.
“Do you remember the story of David and Goliath?’”
“YEAH!” (a favorite at our house, clearly.)
“What did David do?”
“He KILLED Goliath!”
“Yes – he was very brave when no one else would be. AND he was young and much smaller than Goliath. With God’s help, he beat the “bad guy” even though he wasn’t very big. You might be tall when you grow up, you might not, but like David, you can be brave either way – with God’s help.”
“And when I grow up, then I can be a brave police officer and get the bad guys?”
“You can do whatever you want with God by your side.”
“I can be tall?!”
Don’t hold your breath on that one son, but I’m convinced you WILL be brave. And I pray for the courage and strength to support you as walk out that bravery.
What characteristics or qualities do your boys equate with being brave? How do you help your sons understand the true meaning of bravery? What is your favorite Bible story or verse to help teach real bravery to your sons?
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Oh I just LOVE this. To be honest, it took me a while to read this story because I was enraptured by the adorable cuteness of your son in the picture.
David & Goliath is such an amazing story for boys, I can’t wait for the moment when Rowan requests that story.
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Love it. Courage is a common theme around our house!
We tell our 5 boys that every time they are scared, it is a chance to be brave.
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That’s SO sweet! “I can be tall?”
I love the story of David and Goliath, and it is such a great illustration for our small sons. They can wrap their minds around this boy who killed the giant… they can relate to him. What a great way for you to seize a teachable moment!
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Thank you ladies!
And Amy, I love that way of teaching bravery every day!
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What a fabulous post! His desire to be tall reminds me of The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt. The way boys minds work are pretty awesome aren’t they…every color becomes vivid and every story comes to life. Thanks for sharing! ~Jessica
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