I’m not sure how long Dad has been gone now. Maybe fifteen years? I can’t remember, and honestly, it’s not important to the story. I’m sixty-six now, and it’s been a long while since he passed.
I was just thirteen when he left the first time. He and Mom had decided, well, probably Mom, that they were getting a divorce. My older brother and I told her we weren’t moving 1,000 miles away to our grandmother’s. My brother was two years older and already working, so he got an apartment. I just bummed around town… a story for another day.
Even now, after all these years, I still find myself on some days, especially after something amazing happens, wishing my dad could see it. I wish he could see what God has done in my life. It’s not a thought that lingers long, just a flash, a moment. But it’s there.
And that’s how I know every boy, every man longs for their father’s approval.
When a Boy Needs His Dad
Recently, I was with a group of boys on a hunting trip, one of the incredible ranches I get to take them to each year. Each boy gets to harvest one animal, chosen by the ranch guide. To me, they’re all trophies.
After the hunt, we spent the afternoon fishing for 3-pound bass and eating lunch. One of the boys could barely sit still, he just wanted to call his dad. He talked nonstop about how he couldn’t wait to tell him about his antelope, smiling and laughing to himself at the thought of his dad’s excitement.
He finally called. It was a quick conversation, just a few minutes, and he told the short version of his big adventure. But as the call ended, I watched the joy fade from his face. The high fives never came. His shoulders dropped. His spirit, which had been soaring, just… deflated.
It was astounding and heartbreaking.
Affirmation for Boys Matters
Every man, every boy needs affirmation, confirmation, acknowledgment.
When a boy doesn’t receive it from his father, or another trusted man, he will go looking for it somewhere else.
If he’s not affirmed by you, he’ll turn to other places:
- Video games that give him false achievement.
- Social media that feeds his need for approval.
- Pornography or gangs that make him feel powerful or seen.
It won’t matter if it’s good or bad, legal or dangerous. Because he’s wired to seek affirmation, he needs to know he matters, that he’s seen, that he belongs.
As a result, he’ll go wherever he feels that acceptance. Therefore, it’s vital that we, as men of God, step into that space.
KOZ: Where Boys Are Seen, Affirmed, and Loved
That’s why Kids Outdoor Zone (KOZ) exists.
KOZ gives boys a chance to experience adventure and affirmation through the mentorship of godly men. Around a campfire, on a riverbank, or during a hunt, boys hear words that can change their lives:
“I’m proud of you.”
“You did great.”
“You’re part of something bigger than yourself.”
In KOZ, boys are seen, acknowledged, and cared for. They become part of something good and deeply rooted in who they were made to be.
Boys are designed for this. They need it.
And at KOZ, it’s free.
Bring us the boys.
We’ll be here for them.
Amen.
JOIN THE MISSION
If you’re already a KOZ Leader, thank you for being the man who steps in when a boy needs to be seen and affirmed. Keep sharing your stories, your photos, and your prayers, because every story of a boy being lifted up matters.
If you’re new here and want to learn how KOZ mentoring changes boys’ lives, visit kidsoutdoorzone.com/groupinfo. You’ll find tools to get a boy involved, or to start a KOZ group in your church.
Together, we can raise up strong boys who become strong men of God.
