Impacting the life of a boy...

Last Friday, I spoke in my blog about being a presence to the school children in hopes of sparking them to respond to the vocational call God gives to each and every person. I began thinking about how a child's life is often shaped by the events of their childhood and the influences others have on them.

Take young boys for example. From the age of 3 years old, boys look to a male person as a role model. Usually, this is the father but if he is not a part of the young life of the child, they seek others as their model. This might be another relative, close friend of the family or it might be a teacher. Regardless of who it is, the fact of the matters is that young boys are going to be influenced by the male persons in their life. As they enter school and especially from 4th grade until the end of high school, boys are impacted by how men act around them. This is SO important for men to remember. They don't have to necessarily be directly involved in a child's life to impact them. Someone at school who is not their teacher but who they see every day can impact them. A male parishioner who is involved in the parish and live his faith can impact them. Even the fathers of other children can have an impact on them.

The fact that men can have that impact is not necessarily a negative thing. A teacher, priest or even a person who is a extraordinary minister can spark a boy's vocation to priesthood simply by asking them if they have ever thought of being a priest. A parishioner or friend of the family can help a boy to develop a strong prayer life simply by seeing that person praying to God. My point is that men need to be cognizant of the fact that their words and actions impact the future of our children. What you do may not seem particularly important or of any significance to you at the time, but your actions may shape the future of some young boy who sees you acting as a good and faithful Catholic. Until next time...God bless.

posted by: crossman at 07:06 | link | comments (3) |
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Comments:

#1  19 September 2007 - 15:16

 

Father,

I have a question and a comment...Don't you think that parents also can influence their son or daughter towards a vocation into the priesthood or religious life just by living a faithful catholic christian life?

You could also say the opposite about parents too...They could also discourage their children from entering into a vocation of priesthood or religious life due to various personal reasons.

Just my thoughts...

Julie

Anonymous

#2  24 September 2007 - 05:44

 

I agree with you 100%. Parents are the first and primary teachers of children. They look up to their parents for guidance and as an example from a very early age. If parents do not encourage their children to consider God's call in their life, it may never cross their mind.

Thanks for the comment. I think you hit the nail right on the head!

Fr. Chris

crossman

#3  27 September 2007 - 02:00

 

Just to add on... Studies have also proven that boys need a good and concerned male figure in their life. A study on homosexuality concluded that the orientation is created/aggrevated by the absence of a male figure in the life of the boy (and vice versa for girls.), inter alia

Anonymous

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