"Never let any one make your mother or sister cry"...

One of the casualties of the religious commitment to egalitarianism is a sense of God's call to men to protect, provide and to be faithful. Russell Moore spoke beautifully of this in the parenting seminar at Bethlehem Baptist Church (watch for this seminar -- March6/7 --to come online either at Desiring God or hopeingod.org in the next few days).

Among the Camps by Thomas Nelson Page is a wonderful read-aloud for children about children during the civil war in the south. Major Stafford must go off to war, and his young son Charlie promises that when he gets to be a man he won't let anybody make his mamma cry." In response his father says to his wife: "On my word, Ellen, the fellow has some of the old blood in him." Then he calls Charlie his young knight and, drawing him up, says, "I had rather have heard you say that than have won a brigadier's wreath."

In another story Jack, 10 years old, is left by his father (going off to fight) to take care of his mother. "He told him he wanted him to mind his mother, and look out for her, to help her and save her trouble, to take care of her and comfort her, and defend her always like a man."

No doubt these good old stories can teach us how to charge our young men to begin early their calling to protect, provide and be faithful.