I noticed something different as soon as Andrew walked in the door. One evening, not so long ago, my 16-year old came home from working-out at the Y and told me a custodian had stopped him in the hallway and said he “looked like a champion” after working out. Andrew said he felt like giving the guy a hug because it made him feel good someone noticed his hard work lifting weights. Then he felt kind of awkard so he just told him “thanks” and kept walking.
But, when he got to the exit door, Andrew decided to drop his bag and run back to thank the guy for encouraging him.
The next morning as we were heading out the door for school, Andrew was still thinking about what had happened. He said he was tired of thinking about himself all the time and he’d decided any time he gets a sense in his heart that he needs to encourage someone, he’s going to follow through.
I did everything I could to hold back the tears. And with his permission I want to share why.
We have been on a hard part of Andrew’s journey this past year. A journey filled with doubts and hard questions about God, compounded by frustration and uncertainties about his purpose in life.
A journey that has broken my heart and brought me to my knees.
And while praying for my son, I’ve heard wisdom that could only come from his Heavenly Father.
- Wisdom told me not to react, but to listen closely as Andrew vented words that were hard to hear.
- Wisdom told me to keep my mouth shut, and let my actions speak louder than my emotions.
- Wisdom helped me breathe deep and look for ways to affirm unique gifts I’d seen in Andrew that he could no longer see in himself.
I have admired Andrew’s natural tendency to notice and encourage others for years. But it had disappeared. So, I’d been praying 1 Thessalonians 5:11 for him, asking Jesus to help this boy I love remember what brings him joy and purpose.
And God had answered, using the kindness of a stranger to stir up that life-giving gift in my son. That day, a ray of hope broke through the clouds. And each day it gets a little brighter as I stay on my knees and in God’s word on my son’s behalf.
Parenting is hard. It can leave a mama feeling worn out and weary from the battle for the hearts of her children.
If that is you, please keep reading and enter today’s special giveaway. I’m excited to introduce you to my new friend, Brooke McGlothlin. Brooke knows what it’s like to want to wave the white flag and give up the fight but she also knows God has called mothers to get in the battle. So how do we do that in the most effective way? By coming alongside them in prayer.
Brooke just released a new book, Praying for Boys: Asking God for the Things They Need Most, And I love it! So I’m giving away a copy today!
From fun boy mom humor, to insightful biblical wisdom, Brooke helps mothers of boys discover their value and power as praying moms. In Praying for Boys Brooke teaches us to discover delight in the chaos of raising boys, and helps us have more peace in our hearts and homes. {Disclaimer: If you have a daughter, don’t worry I’ve got another friend whose written a book for you and I’ll be giving away one soon!}
But if you are a mom of boys, I want to tell you a little more because this book is a praying-boy-mom’s treasure chest!
Praying for Boys will:
- Help you stop hovering, and start covering.
- Give you permission to wave the white flag, while empowering you with the tools you need to keep going.
- Help you recognize your value and power as a praying mom.
- Overcome feelings of failure, and walk in confidence as a mom.
My favorite part is that Brooke includes over 200 topically-organized, Scripture-based prayer prompts for 21 areas in which boys struggle the most.
Brooke McGlothlin is Co-founder of Raising Boys Ministries, where moms and dads come to discover delight in the chaos of raising boys. You can find her writing about fighting for the hearts of her sons at the MOB Society blog. Brooke is also a homeschooling mom to her two boys and happily married to the man she’s had a crush on since the third grade.
ENTER TO WIN: Click “Share Your Thoughts” below this post and tell me about the boys you pray for.
I’ll choose a winner Sunday night, and announce it on my blog Monday, along with the 5 winners that will be picked from Wednesday’s Giveaway.
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My husband, 4 grown sons, and 4 grandsons. It is such a privilege to raise sons. A gift from the Lord.
I am a single Mom praying for my 13 year old son. It seems like lately we are speaking two different languages and everything is a confrontation. It’s amazing because our church family doesn’t believe I’m speaking of the same child when I say what is going on, our latest battle. My prayer partner and I having praying about a way to connect to him. How do I get through the hormones that clearly know how to reach him?
Don’t give up, Karen! I also am the single parent of two sons and a daughter. We had some very rough times but God is faithful! HE will take care of your boy and draw you closer. Boys go thru just as many rough times as girls do in their teenage years. I am very thankful to share that my boys are now in their early 30s and married to precious Godly women. Wishing you the best…..
I am an old maid retired school teacher. I never gave birth, but I have many boys. I have four living brothers, two brothers in law, eight nephews, eight great nephews, my church boys and many precious former students. I pray! I pray for two brothers who were elders in their churches and no longer attend, for the husbands of my nieces, ESP. the one who used drugs. I pray for the boys at church whose parents don’t attend. I pray for my brothers in Christ. This book sounds great. I would love to give it to my sister who has a 14 year old ADHD son and a brain damaged husband.
I am praying for my 20 year old college son and my prayer partner’s 15 year old son. Another friend has a son who is 21 and struggling but what encouragement about this book, after my conversation with her yesterday. This encourages me to be stonger and more confident in my prayers, when it does seem very effective. Thank you and thank God.
I was really moved by this. My heart is so poured out for my Killian. He is 12, has some autism spectrum, but worse–has a Dad who discourages him from loving the Lord. Even before he was born I could feel the Holy Spirit pouring off of him, but now it is that God must work in him in other ways. He is kind unless he’s bullying someone, he’s a great reader & a good student, unless he doesn’t like the subject or the Teacher, he will say grace but rebels when it’s time to go to church.
I pray for him, his brother & all the men in my life. God seems to send them to me lately & it’s an honor to pray for them. Thanks for everything!
My 12-year-old who is struggling with Type 1 Diabetes and ADHD. He’s smart, but hates school. He questions his purpose in the world. Such heavy things for one so young. Also for my 31-year-old who watches his friends get married and start families and wonders why he hasn’t found his “the one” yet.
Diabetes & ADHD…I know you face your daily challenges! I just want to pray for you that God will work in your boys’ hearts & lives! GBY!
I have two boys. The oldest is married and has a good job, loves his family and attends church.
The youngest is in Afghanistan. He is married but the marriage has problems. We had a few rough teenage
years and words and hurt happened. He is doing better now and he reads his Bible daily. I pray for both of my boys!
I so loved your story. Thanks to both you & Andrew for sharing it. I have 3 sons I’ve prayed for since before they were born. Zach is a married 27 year old, Jordan is 25 and Tyler is 23. They are amazing men. They have each had struggles and we have recently seen our middle son come back to God after 5 years of being a prodigal. It is so so so hard not to hover, try to control and sit in fear. God is good, I know He loves them more than I do. I’ve struggled with the prayer peace in that I know God tells me to pray, prayer matters but I don’t understand how, why and have sometimes used prayer as a “gum ball machine or lucky rabbits foot”. I’d like to grow in my faithfulness in prayer. I’d love to win the book. I also have a friend struggling with her 18 year old, I would like to have her read Brooks book too. I am excited to read Brooke’s book.
Thank You~
Annie M
I love my boys. I have two, 15 and 8. Both at different stages in life. Both with different concerns that I pray about. God has blessed us!
My son is 16 years old. My son and I were separated for almost 10 years because I decided in my past wrong way to think that I was the correct person to make the plans in my life and my sons life so I came to the United States to offer him a better life. “The american dream” but I lost too many days and years being separate of the biggest blessing of my life not knowing the big damage I was doing to my own son. I’m a single mother and Glory to God in this country I started to knew who really is God. I gave my life to Jesus 2 years ago and I finally surrender to Him. My son came to live with me 3 years ago and it has been really a challenge for both of us but my trust is in The King of Kings. I really think mothers prayers can change the life of our kids but we need to know how to pray and ask God for His perfect will for them. Sounds an interesting book. No doubt to buy it. God bless you all!
As a Mom of 2 grown sons and 3 precious grandsons I have varied issues to pray about. I look at how the world and society has changed since we raised our sons and fear for our grandsons lest they get drawn into the snares the world has to offer that weren’t there even 25 years ago. It’s an awe inspiring responsibility to lift them up and to hold my tongue when I’d so like to offer unasked for advice to my son and daughter-in-law. The book sounds like a wonderful resource and encouragement.
Oh gosh this is what I’ve been needing to read, thank you thank you thank you! I just told my husband the other day that ” I couldn’t do it anymore” so frustrated waving the white flag. We have 2 boys 14 & 11. It’s our 11 year old that is giving us a run of worries anxiety and grey hairs 🙂 already. He is disobedient , tells fibs, and isn’t motivated in school at all until we are on him ( and take away all privileges ) then it’s crunch time and do better. It’s very draining and causes friction in our home with everyone, I am at loss for words things to do etc, so with that being said I am so grateful to have read this devotion this morning and being reassured their is hope and to keep praying and Let God do his miracles.. Thank you for writing and knowing of a book to help with this. Enjoy you journey
April 🙂
I have a 6-year old boy and this book will for sure help me to be the godly man God has called him to be. Raising boys seems so challenging. Thank you so much for sharing your story! God bless.
I have been busy raising three daughters who are 23, 19, and 15. However I also have a son who is 5 years old and he is SO different from my girls! I feel like I am learning to parent all over again. I am greatly enjoying my little man but could definitely use some words of wisdom to help me through this process. I also have two grandsons who are 10 months and 3 years old and I would love to be able to share words of wisdom in raising boys with my daughter!
thank you for the encouragement to keep praying for our children even when we think it is getting us no where. I look forward to reading this book. I pray for both of my sons, my son-in-law and my brothers, but for my youngest who is 14 gets angry quickly mostly at his family and I keep attributing it to his father passing a couple years ago. Even though he was saved and baptized when he was 9, I know this is eating away at him. Please, if you remember, keep my Michael in your prayers. Thanks again for your inspirational post and knowing that we are not alone, and need to pray for all the boys of this world.
My son is now an adult with a wife and children of his own. I find that I need to pray for him now more than ever. I am thankful that we have a God that hears our prayers with no limits, no boundaries. We mothers must have the wisdom, guidance and direction to pray for our sons in a manner in which God wants us to. Our sons never outgrow the need for their mother’s sweet prayers.
The boy I pray for is my son, who is 4 days away from being 13 years old! Thank you for the encouragement!
I pray for my 4 yr old son, Noah and my husband. I would love to receive a copy of this book! I pray that God gives them wisdom and a heart that seeks the Lord in everything they do!
I am a single mom raising two amazing teenage boys. Like any mom, I worry about them & the choices that they make. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be the best mom that I can be for them. My heart’s desire is for them to be godly men someday. I would love a copy of this book – praying for my boys is the most powerful tool I have in raising them.
I have one daughter – almost 21, and four boys. My boys are 18, 15,14, and 12. As a mother, I sometimes find it hard to relate to my boys. I try to understand and advise them, but I know that women and men think and see things differently and sometimes that gap is hard to bridge. It is a blessing to be a mother and to be given the gift of sharing our lives with these wonderful, lovely people, but being a mother is hard sometimes, too. The best gift we can give to our sweet families is the gift of prayer.