From Seed to Strength: A 5 Day Devotional for Raising Sons With Purpose by Dr. Richelle WhittakerSample

Day 1: Vision

"Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he who reads it may run with it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time."
—Habakkuk 2:2

What’s your vision for your son? One mom shared with me that she had spent so much time focusing on her son’s accolades and accomplishments that she hadn’t given much thought to who he was as a person. Many of us can relate to this. It’s easy to focus on what our sons do rather than who they are—but boys are different. They think, act, and process the world uniquely. The good news is we don’t have to stay stuck in this mindset.

Take a moment to visualize your son as a grown man. Who is he? How does he treat others? What do people say about him?

I imagine your vision is similar to mine- we want our sons to be patient, kind, generous, compassionate, and loving. The question then becomes: what can we do now to help them get there? It starts with writing down the vision.

A few years ago, I worked with a mom whose son was autistic. He exhibited disruptive behaviors that kept him in a self-contained classroom. Her long-term vision was for him to be independent and able to care for himself. She started where he was, patiently working to replace those behaviors. By the time I met them, her son was in high school, fully integrated into regular classes, and navigating school life just as easily as his peers.

God has equipped us for this journey and entrusted us with the great responsibility of raising sons who submit to and follow Him. To accomplish this, we need faith, intentionality, and vision.

What is your vision for your son? Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you map out the vision and the steps to achieve it.

Prayer:
Lord, You know the plans You have for my son’s life. Please reveal glimpses of those plans to me and guide me as I help shape his character. Teach me how to nurture him to honor You and show respect and love to others.