In the book Toy Box Leadership, the chapter on Little Green Army Men provides a rich metaphor for leadership and preparation. These small, iconic toys symbolize much more than childhood play; they offer profound lessons about strategy, teamwork, and what the military calls backward planning, where you start with the end in mind. As parents, teachers, and mentors in a child’s life, we are called to apply these principles with intentionality, recognizing that we have only a finite amount of time—typically until a child turns 18—to prepare them to serve Christ and not allow anything to derail them from God’s will.
Backward Planning: Starting With the End in Mind
One of the most impactful lessons from the Little Green Army Men chapter is the importance of backward planning. Just as military strategists map out their objectives and work backward to ensure every step aligns with the ultimate goal, we must adopt a similar approach when guiding children through their formative and adolescent years. Too many parents reach for help during the difficult years rather than prepping them for the valleys ahead.
Imagine standing at a child’s 18th birthday and looking back. What values, skills, and attitudes would you want them to have acquired? What kind of person do you hope they will be? If you want an athlete, you will spend most of your time running them to practice and paying for travel ball. But if you go a little further and look back from their 30th birthday, you will see how few make it to college teams and even fewer to a professional level. When cleats sit stinking in the closet after years of non-use, you may ask, what would it look like if you spent a similar time cultivating their biblical worldview as a Christ-follower? Start with the end in mind and build into your child or the students in your ministry what they most need for their future 18 or 30-year-old selves. When you can successfully backward plan, then parents will flock to your ministry and help you knowing it makes a difference.
Other lessons from the Little Green Army Men
Those rigid plastic forms remind us that each kid in our family and ministry has different skills and talents. When you pour out the plastic soldiers, you will see all the differences. One little green army man uses a two-way radio, another sweeps for mines, and others defend with weapons. Our kids, siblings born to the same parents, will grow up vastly different, with one thinking about helping people and using their gifts for education, medicine, or even as a pastor. The other brother might lean toward HVAC tech, being an engineer, or contractor. Can you cultivate their abilities while also helping them fall in love with Christ and use their gifts to serve God?
Battle Prep
As we backward plan for a child’s future, let us remember that seemingly small, everyday actions—like those tiny green soldiers—carry immense significance. Each conversation helps them understand how to interpret life and prepare for difficulties and celebrations ahead. Together, these moments create a roadmap that prepares the next generation for a life of purpose and impact.
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