Daly Focus Blog
Driving is a great illustration for life.
First, what makes driving safe? That line painted down the middle of the road. It’s a boundary that tells you what lane is yours and what lane is mine.
Second, in driving and in life, we encounter people and circumstances wherever we go that force us to respond quickly and make good decisions that protect our family and ourselves.
And third, to get to where we want to go, we have to be in the correct lane.
Today, I’ve got a simple idea to help you build a great marriage. It’s fun, too.
Laugh together.
Proverbs says, “A joyful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). Jean and I have great memories of laughing together in the car or around the dinner table. A few times we’ve laughed so hard for so long that we started laughing at each other laughing.
Laughter is often more about connection than it is humor. Studies show that couples who laugh are healthier, happier and more connected.
Neil deGrasse Tyson is a well-known astrophysicist and media personality who speaks around the country about astrophysics and recent discoveries. While on a radio program, he was asked about the meaning of life. His response was that meaning and purpose are dependent on the choices we make. We live. We die. And in between we hopefully contribute something positive to the world. In short, life has no meaning unless we give it one.
With all due respect to Dr.
Many moms and dads parent out of fear because the challenges their children face seem much greater than previous generations. They feel unsure about guiding their teen through the pressures of social media, depression, anxiety and addiction. They feel even less confident about helping their teen develop a sincere faith.
Jodie Berndt is a Bible teacher and speaker whose latest book is called Praying the Scriptures for Your Teens. She’s with us on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Praying for Your Teens Heart and Future” to share how to strengthen your teenager’s character for the inevitable crises to come by creating habits of prayer.
Culture moves faster and faster. With jobs and kids and all that goes on in life, balance can be difficult to find. Today, I have a suggestion to make that endeavor a little easier.
Consider Carl. Like you and me, he’s busy. His work hours are hectic. He travels frequently. And even when he’s home, a never-ending to-do list vies for his time. He feels pulled in so many different directions that he struggles to give his wife and children his full attention.
Helping children navigate the ever-changing world of technology and social media can be overwhelming. Nevertheless, it’s an important part of today’s parenting agenda. Entertainment consumption shapes who we are, how we think and what we believe. That’s especially true of impressionable children.
On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Becoming a Screen Savvy Family,” we’re looking at what God’s word says about teaching children discernment in entertainment choices.
In studio with me are two members of our Plugged In staff.
Integrity is a paradox. It’s subtle enough that you don’t often think about it. Yet, it’s profound enough that trouble ensues when it’s missing.
Take, for example, the chess match between 33-year-old Magnus Carlsen, a grandmaster from Norway, and the 2,500th ranked player in the world from Kazakhstan. Carlsen was expected to defeat his lower-ranked opponent with ease. Instead, Carlsen was blown out in just 31 moves. How?
Carlsen says his problems started early in the match when he noticed his opponent was wearing a watch.
Guy and Amber Lia were convinced that they’d made a mistake as soon as they got married. Neither had communication skills to work through differences. Both reacted to each other instead of responding. Only a short time after their wedding, their relationship spiraled, and they considered throwing in the towel.
Every dating couple imagines marriage as a string of mountaintop experiences. We can’t fathom romance fading. We can’t foresee our conversations not stretching into the wee hours of the night.
It’s time for your checkup! Not a checkup for your body, your teeth, or your car, but for your marriage.
According to research, only 19% of couples take part in pre-marital counseling. Of those who get married, only a third seek counseling before getting divorced. And of those couples, many limp into a pastor or a counselor’s office for help only after ignoring their problems for years. Counseling is their last resort, a last ditch effort to rescue a marriage that, by that point, could be beyond saving.
I’ve always believed that a child’s first teachers are mom and dad. Most parents understand their role during their child’s preschool years. But once their child begins elementary school, many parents defer a lot of educational responsibilities to teachers and administrators. In short, they step back and let the professionals take over.
Tragically, that’s a dangerous thing to do these days. There is growing dissonance between parents and once-trusted public school systems. Traditional teaching curriculum have been replaced by alarming agendas of liberal politics, social justice, gender confusion and even sexual exploitation.
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.
