Both of my boys had colic as infants. On a good night, they might only sleep for a couple of hours at a time. Jean and I tried everything to get them to rest, including placing them on top of our clothes dryer, hoping the movement would calm them. Other nights, I would drive Trent – and two years later, Troy – around the neighborhood at two o’clock in the morning. But every time, as soon as I brought them home and lay them down – boom!
Understanding the Root of Your Child’s Misbehavior
Why do kids behave poorly?
According to Dr. Kevin Leman, there are four goals of misbehavior:
Attention. “I only count when others notice me and serve me.”
Power. “I only count when others do what I want them to do when I want them to do it.”
Revenge. “I only count when I hurt others like I’ve been hurt.”
Display of inadequacy. “I’m no good. I’m worth nothing. I can’t do anything right, so why try at all?”
Once you understand why your child misbehaves, the next important question is: what do you do about it?
For Those in the Background
Here’s a trivia question for you: Which team has the worst win-loss record in all of sports?
The answer is a basketball team called the Washington Generals. They’ve been losing nonstop to the Harlem Globetrotters since 1926 – a mind-bending 16,000 times. Obviously, the Washington Generals are a spoof, but they illustrate the importance of people who make an organization successful even though they never get the spotlight – which is most of us.
The Generals are supposed to lose.
Honoring the Fallen
One million.
That’s a big number. But on today of all days, that number takes on even greater value and significance.
That’s because today is Memorial Day, the day we remember over one million Americans who have died in war on behalf of us all.
That figure is astounding by itself. But it’s even more sobering when you reflect on this: every one of those one million has a name, and behind every name is a family whose entire world changed forever because that soldier didn’t come home alive.
Gaining a New Perspective in Life
Author and speaker Canon J. John tells this story:
A factory employee headed home at the end of a long day, pushing a wheelbarrow. Inside the wheelbarrow was a small box.
At the security gate, the guard stopped him and asked, “What’s in the box?”
The worker replied, “The sawdust from the floor. At the end of the day, it’s swept up and thrown away. I need some, so I put it in a box to take home.”
The guard looked inside the box and, sure enough, it was filled with sawdust.
True of Every Person
What is human life worth?
Does every person deserve to be treated with dignity?
What about the elderly, the unborn, or the disabled?
One of the most important ideals America has pursued for 250 years is the belief that all people are equally valuable. Yet, throughout that time our nation has struggled to agree on exactly how to define human equality. After all, we don’t all have equal ability, talent, or intelligence. We’re not all equally healthy or ambitious.
Examining Your Part in a Difficult Marriage
Darryl Strawberry had it all. Talent. Money. Success. Fame. He had been a power-hitting, eight-time Major League All-Star who earned four World Series championships in 17 seasons with teams like the New York Mets and the New York Yankees. Then his career and his life were derailed by substance abuse and prison time. He lost two marriages, was estranged from his children, and was $3,000,000 in debt.
When Darryl met Tracy – in recovery – she was also in a bad place.
Where Do Babies Come From?
Kids are full of good questions. But sometimes parents aren’t prepared with good answers.
Like, “Where do babies come from?”
If you’re in that stage of parenting, don’t panic. Questions like these are usually simple curiosity. Your child is realizing that the world is bigger than he is. It’s unlikely that he’s searching for an anatomical explanation. Rather, he’s trying to figure out where he existed prior to mom giving birth to him.
A great way to respond is to turn this question into an opportunity to introduce your child to the God of the Bible, who created and loves him (Psalm 139:14).
Understanding Your Purpose and God’s Plan
According to Lifeway Research, 57% of Americans are seeking meaning and purpose in their lives.
In the classic comic Peanuts, Charlie Brown visits Lucy’s “psychiatric” stand and asks for advice. Lucy explains that on the cruise ship of life some people arrange their deck chair at the back of the ship to see where they’ve been. Others place their chairs at the front, so they can see where they’re going. When asked which way Charlie’s chair is facing, he replies, “I’ve never been able to get one unfolded.”
Can you relate?
What You Can Do to Help Kids in Foster Care
May is National Foster Care Month.
Nearly 400,000 children in the United States are in foster care, which means they’ve been separated from their families – in some cases, permanently – and need a safe, healthy place to live.
Unless you’ve lived as a foster kid like I did, or know a family who is involved in foster care, you’re probably not aware of how difficult these circumstances can be for children. We in the Christian community have a wonderful opportunity to come alongside these children and help them thrive.
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