It’s been said that boys need to live an adventure and that girls want to be part of a good adventure. Society has spent the last 30 years redefining masculinity into something sensitive, safe and manageable.

The world teaches a girl to be tough, efficient and independent. While these are admirable qualities, they fight the nature God created in men and women when He made them after His image.

How do we develop that nature of adventure, the desire for the dangerous unknown, the quest to create? How do we do this within the boundaries of respect?

As a child, I could not wait for Sunday afternoons. It was time for our family adventure hikes. As I climbed hills, I dreamed I was a Sherpa guide, leading Sir. Edmond Hillary to the top of Mt. Everest. We would hike to water falls I named Victoria Falls. I would climb granite rocks searching for little cracks where I could get a grip or toe hold and stand at the top with arms outstretched and fists closed. I was Tarzan and Superman all tied into one. I would stand on the edge of a mountain cliff with a drop of 1,000 meters and watch the hawks and vultures circle on the wind and heat currents. I would dream of spreading my arms and being the first man to soar with the eagles and impress the prettiest girl in my class.

Today my son buys an X-Box game and amazes me as he advances from the first level to the top. My daughter gets on a horse and rides with the wind. God has built in each of us a spirit of adventure and a love of danger. Do we as parents encourage this in our children – or are we too busy to spend time with our children? Do we encourage good friends for our children to have adventure with – or are we allow them to pick friends we know nothing about? God tells us to, “Train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it.” Our children will grow up to be the creative geniuses of the next generation. Will it be for good or bad? I believe the answer is in direct proportion to the time we take in personally guiding our children in the way he or she should go. When they are old, they will follow the example they have had set for them.

None of us are perfect as individuals – nor are our marriages perfect.  As we work together to maintain our love and a strong marriage, our homes will be a good environment for growing and happy children.