Sons Pause to Give Gratitude

I just finished an incredible weekend at the Be Bold Conference.

The lineup was something special: John “Bo Duke” Schneider, Kayleigh McEnany, Lee Arnold, Steven Hemming, and Kirk Cameron. The night closed with a packed house and laughter from Tim Hawkins. Saturday brought Dr. Ben Carson, Willie Robertson, Ike Whitaker, Scott Hamilton, Lee Arnold, Anne Graham Lotz, and Anne Wilson.

And there I was, somewhere in the middle standing, talking on stage, between “Bo Duke” and a former White House press secretary.

That moment hit me. Not because of who I was sharing the stage with, but because of the grace that put me there.

Hundreds of conversations followed. Men, fathers, mothers, pastors. Talking about godly masculinity, raising sons, courage, and conviction. The energy was strong. The hunger was real.

But as I drove away, I felt the Holy Spirit whisper a simple reminder:

Pause. Give thanks.

Sons don’t rush past gratitude.

In a world that moves from one platform to the next, one win to another, we rarely stop long enough to honor the One who made it possible. Gratitude is more than manners. It’s the posture of a son who knows where his help comes from.

Scripture says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Gratitude recalibrates the heart. It reminds a son who his Father is, and where the strength, the opportunity, and the calling truly come from.

Even Jesus paused to give thanks before feeding the five thousand and before raising Lazarus. Gratitude came before the miracle.

So I’m pausing today...

I’m grateful for the men who showed up hungry for truth.

For the fathers raising sons to stand firm.

For the mothers who pray for their sons to be bold contenders for the faith, and for their daughters to one day find one.

For those in the nation standing for truth, faith, and courage in a time that desperately needs it.

And for the grace that keeps me on this journey, learning what it means to live as a son, not an orphan.

If you’re reading this, take a breath.

Think of what you’ve been given.

Think of the road behind you and the Father who’s carried you through it.

Sons pause to give gratitude.

Not because life is easy, but because the Father is faithful.

And if you want to be challenged to live boldly, take a second to look at the Be Bold Conference lineup for 2026 and make plans to attend. I’ll see you there, with a grateful heart.

https://bebold4jesus.org/