The church's role in raising better kids- part 2

Dr. Meeker's ends her book Boys Should Be Boys with ten tips for making sure you get it right. While I am little leery on such lists, Dr. Meeker's advice is solid. Tip 5, teach him to serve, especially caught my attention: "boys who do this (serve) learn patience and compassion. They lose false pride, but gain real humility. They learn that love is work, but that it is worth loving without expecting a reward. They learn a deeper, more mature sense of themselves, of others, and of the world. They talk less about themselves and ask more questions of the world. They look outward to see what needs repair and go about ways to bring change. Men who serve become better husbands and fathers because they have experienced the satisfaction that comes only through placing another's needs before their own" (235).

Of the 10 tips Meeker offers, churches seem best poised to offer their assistance here. And while I am certainly not a parenting expert, the few experiences I've had my 5 year old with me on a Wednesday Night have confirmed the uniqueness that happens when we serve others.