Raising Real Men::Book Club {Post Two}

First I just want to say that I pray you are being blessed by this book as much as I am. I can’t wait to dig into the next few chapters!

Part One:
What I really got out of this was the part about authority. On page 24 they talk about how boys seem to be programmed to challenge it. Ya, I totally agree. And it seems to most commonly present itself in the form of talking back. I can explain something to my son, and without fail, he will have a rebuttal. It sounds a whole lot like disrespect and talking back. But through reading this section of the book, I’ve realized it’s done because he was programmed to be in charge. He will be a leader one day. Whether that’s in his own home, owning his own business, over a congregation, or even over a country. He is a born leader, because he was created in God’s image. So I think that while it is unacceptable to allow him to talk back, I now at least understand it. And as stated in the book, we have to teach our boys how to submit to authority without destroying their leadership.

Another aspect of Part One is about resisting feminization. It’s all throughout our society. Men are being praised when they show vulnerability. Whether that’s through sensitivity (soft), self-doubt, or gender neutralization. God designed our boys to be strong men of courage and confidence. In this part, they (the authors) present us with a challenge: “Are we willing to do what it takes, to be what it takes, to let our boys by boys, and help them grow to be men? Real Men?

I say yes. I am totally willing.

The last part mentioned in Part One is manly virtues. I especially love this section because it serves as a reminder of how God designed Adam, man. In the book they write that our boys were built to be manly but that they are young and untaught. They need training, teaching and discipleship. And that the persons training them need to have a sympathetic understanding of what they are made of.

So what are some manly virtues? Most likely the things we are complaining about. Aggression, competitiveness, desire for adventure. How about heroism, courage, endurance, fortitude, persistence, honorable, intrepid?

The last challenge in this section: These virtues are present on seed form in our boys. Will we cultivate them and help bring them to fruition? Or will we trade the opportunity for a little more peace and quiet, and hope their future will take care of itself?

I don’t know about you, but I am ready to be a farmer!

Chapter One: Someone To Look Up To
The crux of this chapter is about role models. Boys need heros. I really enjoyed this chapter because it opened my eyes. I never really gave a whole lot of thought to the role models place before my son. Not that I didn’t think about it at all. My husband is such an amazing Godly role model, and his grandfather is also an amazing role model. We are very blessed by that. However, I never really considered this when it came to books or movies. Sure, I’m careful about what he watches and reads. But I am rarely role model-intentional about what I pick. After reading this chapter, I have approached this area so differently.

This chapter gives a couple of recommendations as to what people in history are good role models. Also, it talks about how they discuss books/movies with their sons. I have already implemented some of these things. Such as asking what the theme of the story was. Was the main character admirable? etc.

Because our boys need heros, someone to look up to, I highly recommend this chapter. I know that, through series of events, not all boys have a father in their home, or a father worth emulating. I encourage you to be intentional in this area. Whether you seek someone at church, or an uncle, or grandfather, or find it in a historic figure. Because even a historical figure is someone they can relate to easier than a fictional one.

I so hope you read this book along with me. It has been such a blessing already and I’m only one chapter in.

Next Friday we will discuss chapters 2 and 3. Also, don’t forget you can follow along with further conversation on Twitter. Just use hashtag #MOBBooks.

See you next Friday!

p.s. Next week we hope to have the new forum set up for the bookclub, so be sure to look for those details in next Friday’s post.