Family and Home Archives

Is the Affirmation You Give Your Kids Hurting or Helping Them?

My friend and new Focus on the Family colleague, Dr. Meg Meeker, is a highly acclaimed pediatrician who has spent the past 30 years treating children, helping parents, and writing, teaching and speaking on numerous issues that impact the family. One of the best things I appreciate about Dr. Meg is that she’s practical and regularly addresses the issues parents and children are facing.

Today, I pose a question to her that I think every parent has asked or pondered:

Is the affirmation you give your kids hurting or helping them?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids September 12, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Seeing God’s Image in All Men

Racism is a problem in America.

That much is obvious. What isn’t so obvious is what to do about it. Nothing society has dreamed up has eradicated it. In fact, one could argue that certain movements seeking positive change have deepened the cultural divide rather than bridged it.

Inadvertently or intentionally, the underlying cultural message has often been “choose your side.” Stand against the black community or stand for the black community. Stand against the white community or stand for the white community.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith September 10, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Did You Know This Influences the Success of Your Marriage?

When you ask couples which household issues influence the success of a marriage, things like kids and finances usually rise to the top. But did you know that chores rank third on that list?!

How can something as simple as housework fuel conflict in a marriage? Rather easily it turns out. As we all know, life gets busy. Not long after the “I do’s,” couples tend to get focused on (or maybe I should say, “distracted by”) the household tasks they care about, while forgetting the burdens their spouse is carrying.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, marriage September 7, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Finding Family as a Single Adult

The Bible begins with marriage and ends with marriage.

That ought to tell us something about the importance God places on it. He’s infused it with profound meaning, both as a cultural institution and as one of the most significant relationships we can experience. It’s the bedrock of God’s design for families.

So where does that leave singles?

Throughout the Bible we’re reminded that God created us for community. No one is meant to be alone.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, family, marriage, relationships September 6, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Supporting Your Kids When Life Is Tough

One of the most heartbreaking letters I’ve read was from a grown woman who wrote to Focus and recounted the divorce of her parents when she was a little girl. Her dad told her, “Your mom and I aren’t capable of being together, so I’m leaving. But I’ll always be there for you. I’ll see you on weekends. I’ll see you on your birthday.”

She never saw her dad again.

That father made a lot of promises, and never kept one.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, kids, parenting September 4, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Being Seen By God

“What do you do?”

That’s one of the first things people ask when they’re getting to know you. Or it’s one of the first things we offer to others to describe ourselves. We define who we are by what we do.

But the “dark side” to a lifestyle ruled by opportunity, hard work, and prosperity is that we get caught in a performance trap. We believe our value and worth as people is measured solely by what we achieve, what we acquire, or what we produce.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith August 31, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Understanding God’s Plan for the End of Life

Did you know that about 39 percent of evangelicals believe that “mercy killing” for someone who’s suffering is morally permissible?

That raises another question: How many Christians today understand the Bible’s perspective on suffering?

Few people have the credibility to address issues as poignant as suffering and the value of human life like Joni Eareckson Tada. Fifty years ago, she broke her neck in a diving accident and was left a quadriplegic. Since then, she’s been a tireless advocate for people with disabilities and has stood against the growing movement that promotes suicide for disabled and disadvantaged people.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, pro-life August 28, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Preparing for the Empty Nest Years

Marci Seither and her husband owned a sawmill in Northern California. A customer hired them to remove a huge tree from the spot where their new home would be built. The homeowners thought it a shame to lose such a beautiful tree and planned to recycle the lumber by using it in the house’s construction.

Once the tree was cut down, however, they discovered that the wood was too weak to be used. The tree rings were too far apart.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, family, parenting August 27, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Five Love Languages of Teenagers

My son Troy’s love language is physical touch. When he was younger, he was the first one to run into my arms when I got home each night. Even now as a teenager, he loves when I give him a big bear hug.

My older son, Trent, is more introverted and cerebral. I’ve asked him if he’s okay with hugs, and he says yes, but sometimes he stands so rigid he’s like hugging a pole. I have to remind him to use his arms.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, kids, parenting August 23, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Restoring Your Marriage After Infidelity

“He walked in, and I knew something was horribly wrong. I thought someone had died. I didn’t know it was our marriage.”

That comment from Mona Shriver about the moment she learned her husband Gary was committing adultery, reflects a sentiment felt by almost a third of couples. One or both partners admits to involvement in extramarital affairs, and life as they know it dies.

Gary and Mona Shriver are here with us from California to talk about the emotional devastation they went through as a result of an affair.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, husband, marriage, wife August 21, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura