Oftentimes parents are not raising boys to be men; our sons are simply getting older, but age does not equate to leadership maturity. Parents who desire to raise sons to be men of standard need to be equipped with practical ways to teach young men how to maturate into thriving adults.
We should consider thought-provoking questions about our son's development:
1. How does a boy know when he enters manhood?
2. Who affirms and supports this transition from child to adult?
3. How can he know the way unless someone teaches and guides him?
4. What guidance and support is consistently available to help him at home and in his community?
If a child's identity is defined by popular culture and trends, they may never find it. Most people, young men in particular, struggle to identify a defining moment in their transition into adulthood. This is a sobering realization and conviction.
More than ever, young men have a barrage of distractions telling them who they are. They are challenged with knowing their roles and how to become men of character. The Rites of Passage is not a secret ingredient, and it will not make young boys turn into men. It serves as a demarcation line for parents who want to impart a blessing, encourage belonging, and demonstrate leadership responsibility in their families and communities.
We all have influence. You may be a teacher, coach, pastor, supervisor, parent, civil leader, or authority figure. Therefore, you have influence and a responsibility to future generations. The core message of this book speaks to character, legacy, and those who are willing to say: "I will help raise our young men to be leaders of leaders in a world that is desperate for good leadership."