A Call For Male Mentors: A Toolbox For Life -

Some time ago, a family friend offered to help my son fix his bicycle.

Upon entering the friend’s workshop, my son’s eyes widened as he saw the array of equipment lining the walls: the toolboxes, work benches, and hand tools, each in its own special place.

tools — Photo by Anton Savi n ov on Unsplash

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Male Mentors

The Things That Matter Most

With patience, our friend mentored my son in the affairs of bicycle repair: how to check for a flat, the amount of air pressure to put in a tire, how to replace the seat and handgrips, how to clean the chain.

But more important than his willingness to repair a bicycle was this friend’s natural ability to mentor my son in the things that matter most:

how to be kind
how to help your neighbor
how to earn someone’s trust
how to work hard
and how to be organized (so that the Spirit will feel comfortable being in your presence)

An Example and a Friend

Driving home with the bicycle, now gleaming and in a state of perfect repair, my son said excitedly:

“He was so nice, Mom, and so was his wife! She came out to talk with us. You should have seen his workshop, Mom! It was filled with tools of every kind and, believe it or not, everything had its own place and was put where it belonged.”

He paused for a moment, then continued.

“Can I start organizing my workshop tomorrow, Mom? I want mine to be like his.”

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Tools for Male Mentors

As a mother, I am so grateful for the tools our friend shared: the tools used to repair a bicycle, yes, but more importantly, the ‘life tools’ he so generously shared with my son⎯tools that will bless his life, now and in the future.

“If you ever need anything,” our friend had said to us as we were preparing to leave, “I’m here. Don’t hesitate to call.”

And I knew he really meant it.

A Plea For More Male Mentors

To righteous men everywhere,

Our sons and brothers need your friendship, your righteous example, and your spiritual strength to:

guide them through life,
help them recognize their potential,
encourage them to aspire to great things,
become the man God desires them to become

Consider

How have male mentors blessed the lives of the boys in your life?

What ‘life tools’ have mentors added to your boys’ toolbox?

How might the righteous men in your life reach out and bless the life of another?

Continue Reading

Be sure to check out these insightful posts on male mentors.

Mentor Quotes

“A single conversation with a wise man is better than years of study.”

Unknown

“A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could.”

Zig Ziegler

“Surround yourself with those who encourage you to fulfill your potential.”

Greatman.TV

“One of the greatest values of mentors is the ability to see ahead what others cannot see and to help them navigate a course to their destination.”

John C. Maxwell

“Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Show me a successful individual and I’ll show you someone who had real positive influences in his or her life. I don’t care what you do for a living—if you do it well I’m sure there was someone cheering you on or showing the way. A mentor.”

Denzel Washington

“If you’re early on in your career and they give you a choice between a great mentor or higher pay, take the mentor every time. It’s not even close.”

Stanley Druckenmiller