When we found out Ryder was a boy, I wasn’t the least bit surprised.  That was, after all, in my plan.  So when baby #2 was half-baked, I showed up for the big ultrasound 100% confident we would be seeing pink.  Boy, oh boy, was I wrong!  Didn’t God know that I was destined to have the “perfect” all-American family with one strapping boy and one sweet little girl?!  Clearly, He had other plans for me.

No big deal, I thought.  I can totally handle two boys.

Famous. Last. Words.

Never in my life have I been more bone-weary, more quickly-angered, and less sure of myself than I have for the last five years.  A couple of years ago, I stumbled across a Facebook page called Warrior Prayers – Praying the Word for Boys.  That led to the discovery of the MOB (Mothers of Boys) Society Facebook page, and website, where a team of writers (who are moms of boys) share encouragement for those of us surrounded by the chaos of boyhood.  I’ve really enjoyed their blog posts and newsletters, and when I learned that Brooke McGlothlin was turning her “Warrior Prayers” into a book… and that I could get a free copy for reviewing it… I was all in.

The back of the book says:

Instead of trying harder to change your boy’s behavior or worrying about his future, enjoy the peace that comes when you pray specific prayers for him straight from the Bible. This encouraging book helps you target your prayers on what your son needs most–from patience and self-control to having a pure heart and making wise decisions.
Today you can start giving whatever concerns you have to God and
– learn to fight for your son’s heart in prayer
– look at raising boys as a gift
– see how even quick prayers make a difference
– understand boys’ deepest struggles, no matter their age
– rest in knowing that God is the only One who can change your son’s heart

Written for moms but great for dads (and grandparents) too, this easy-to-use book is filled with uplifting stories and biblical wisdom that will equip you on your journey to raising a godly man.

My Amazon review for “Praying for Boys: Asking God for the Things They Need Most” is short and sweet, but only because I just can’t do justice to what a gem this book is.  Here is what I wrote:

As a mother of two young boys, I heartily nodded my head and gasped and sighed and cried my way through this book. I related to everything this author has experienced, and found relief knowing that I’m not the only one whose physical and emotional resources are stripped bare on a daily basis.

BUT… “God can turn those boys who leave me worn out into those boys who will one day change the world.” And by bringing my boys straight to the feet of the One who loved them enough to die for them, I can stop battling with my sons and start battling for them.

I’m grateful for the author’s transparency… she (like me) doesn’t have it all figured out. She’s not a preacher or certified as some kind of prayer guru. She’s a mom with a fierce love for her boys, and a deep desire to show Christ’s love to them; and her suggestions for prayer using scripture are a great blessing to me. I cannot protect my boys from the harsh realities and dangers and temptations of this world, but by praying specifically for them, I’m “choosing to believe the truth of his Word, praying for its completion in the hearts of my sons…”

If you have even one boy in your brood, this is the book for you.  It’s a quick read, but a resource you’ll want to keep readily available.  In fact, I’m even working on writing each prayer and scripture on cards to carry around with me!

The MOB Society has also launched a <ahem> sister website (for lack of a better term) called Boy Dads – In the Trenches of Fatherhood.  Check it out!
Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishing in exchange for my honest review.