Daly Focus Blog
Death is a topic none of us likes to talk about.
Rationally, we know that death is inevitable, but the complex reactions of grief, fear, and anger associated with it are rarely rational.
Author Jen Babakhan was forced to wrestle with the harsh realities of death on Mother’s Day weekend a few years ago when her dad called early one morning to say that doctors had discovered tumors in her mom’s liver, lungs, and bones. She had stage 4 cancer with a life expectancy of 6-8 weeks.
God works through everyday mundane experiences, but He especially shows up in life’s messiest moments. Author Cynthia Yanof believes God turns our mess into His message.
She says, “The truth is, all the seemingly small things end up being the big things because each of the mishaps, annoyances, and character-building moments are beautifully crafting the very DNA of your family.”
Over the years, Cynthia has seen God work through her family struggles to refine them into who they are today.
How should you respond if your child is questioning his or her sexual identity?
We routinely hear from Christian parents who are navigating this issue. It’s so difficult and complex that it’s easy to feel overcome by emotion and to react poorly. Responses often range from fear and anger to pain and betrayal. But there’s a third option.
Grace.
With grace, it is possible to emulate Christ by listening empathetically and by leaning into your child’s pain and confusion.
Marriage is a beautiful gift from God. But every couple faces challenges, both internal and external, that threaten to tear them apart. Some of those challenges stem from cycles of childhood trauma that are carried into adulthood and repeated.
Speaker and counselor Dan Allender nearly repeated his own cycle of trauma while skiing with his family. His son became afraid of the run they’d chosen, which made Dan angry. When he started yelling at his son to participate, Dan’s wife, Becky, stepped between them and placed her hand over Dan’s heart.
Author Trisha Davis says you’re either a rule follower or a rule breaker.
Rule followers compare themselves to others, so much so that their moral compass becomes legalism, a strict adherence to rules.
• Negatively, this can result in a superficial, performance-based faith.
• Positively, rule followers are predictable and dependable, which fosters trust and security in their relationships.
Rule breakers are creative, push boundaries, and operate comfortably in the midst of chaos.
• Negatively, their disregard for structure often leads to reckless choices, which make relationships difficult.
The data is disturbing: one in three girls in the U.S. are victims of physical, emotional, or verbal abuse in their dating relationships.
Author Dee Dee Said survived an abusive relationship in high school. She was a happy teenager – she got good grades, hung out with friends, and played tennis for her school – but she had a deep desire to have a boyfriend. So, Dee Dee got excited when a boy she calls “Brock” asked her on a date.
School is well underway across the country, which brings up concerns and questions for many parents:
• What’s being taught?
• How do we help our kids think biblically?
• What do we do when the culture moves further and further away from God’s truth?
• How do I most effectively involve myself in my child’s education?
To answer those questions and others, I’ve invited Dr. Larry Taylor and Dr. Barry Corey to join me on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly.
Is your marriage enjoying the warmth of summer? Or is it suffering the chill of winter?
Like nature, every marriage goes through seasons. Depending on which season you’re in, you and your spouse will feel more or less connected, more or less in love, or more or less happy.
When Jean and I first started dating, we enjoyed being together and daydreamed about seeing each other when we were apart. At the time, I lived in San Diego, and she lived in Orange County, and I was willing to inconvenience myself to show my interest.
What lies are robbing you of intimacy with God?
Some lies are passed down generationally. Others come through friends, culture, television, social media, or simply assumptions we make about ourselves and the world around us. Over time, those lies can become deeply entrenched in our lives and keep us from experiencing the life God intends for us. That’s because lies don’t remain confined to our thoughts. They manifest themselves in our beliefs and our actions, affecting how we see God, how we see ourselves, and how we treat the people we love.
When you think about your teenager’s emotional demeanor, what comes to mind?
Confidence, joy, and peace?
Or confusion, stress, and depression?
Maybe it’s a little of everything.
We hear from parents across the country, and most say the same thing: their children are experiencing obstacles unlike any past generation in history. Technology dominates nearly every aspect of their daily lives: entertainment, education, self-image, even their sleep habits and their social interactions. Technology is so pervasive and unsettling that many teens are battling fear, shame, and self-doubt.
Jim Daly is a husband, father and President of Focus on the Family and host of its National Radio Hall of Fame broadcast. His blog, Daly Focus, is full of timely commentary and wisdom designed to help you navigate and understand today’s culture. His latest book is Marriage Done Right.
