Daly Focus Blog
Has parenting been a bumpy ride for you? Some days may be so stressful you’re left wondering, “Is all of this worth it?”
I believe the answer is a resounding yes, but you may not fully appreciate why until after your children are grown. The turbulence can blind you to the reward. On summer vacation one year, my boys and I signed up for a helicopter ride over Bryce Canyon in Utah. The day of our flight the helicopter was under repair, so the pilot took us up in a small Cessna he owned instead.
Sooner or later, we all face circumstances that are beyond our control. The question in those moments is what do we do when there’s nothing we can do?
Future astronaut Jim Lovell faced that situation in 1954 as a navy pilot. He was on a routine training mission over the Sea of Japan one moonless night when his instruments failed. Without warning, his whole world became darkness. To make matters worse, he had no way to visually spot his carrier because the lights had been turned off to avoid enemy detection.
It’s called “Natural Decrease” – the term used to describe what happens when more people die than are born.
Since European settlers arrived in Jamestown in 1610, the population of North America has seen a meteoric climb. From the 300 or so people who first settled in Virginia, the United States Census Bureau currently projects our population at just over 341 million people.
But all is not well when it comes to fertility and mortality across the country.
Could you use a simple tip to improve your marriage?
How about 100 simple tips?
Matt and Lisa Jacobson, my guests on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, actually have them for you.
After 25 years of marriage, Matt and Lisa looked at each other and decided, “Let’s each write down one hundred things that we’ve done to create a loving marriage.” When they compared notes, they realized that big decisions are important, but most of the magic in a relationship is the result of small decisions that stack up over time.
I think about kindness a lot because I believe it lies at the heart of the Gospel. I’ve never heard of anyone becoming a Christian as a result of judgment, condemnation, or ridicule.
It occurs to me that Scripture never tells us to be “nice” but to be “kind.” Nice is usually a thin veneer of kindness with nothing of substance underneath.
One of my favorite verses is Romans 2:4: “Or do you … not know that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” It is God’s kindness that opens people’s hearts to God’s message.
I’m sure you’ve wished you could change something about yourself. We all have. Taller. Shorter. Curly hair. Straight hair. We wish we were as athletic as someone else or could play an instrument.
Desiring strength in an area where we are weak is common, but it can cause us to lose sight of our greater purpose in Christ and fall into despair as a result. Especially children. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for 10-to-14-year-olds.
Infidelity is one of the top reasons why marriages end in divorce. That should come as no surprise. It’s hard to repair the gaping wounds that an affair rips into a relationship. Many couples choose to walk away. Even Christians often view infidelity as a “get out of jail free card.”
Josh and Katie Walters know firsthand the betrayal and devastation of infidelity. They now serve on staff at Seacoast Church, a multi-campus ministry in South Carolina, but six years into their marriage, Katie confessed that she was having an affair with one of Josh’s best friends.
Is pursuing a healthy lifestyle something we can actually enjoy?
Author Gary Thomas says, “Yes.”
I trust Gary, but I’m skeptical. If you’re anything like me, your lazy side frequently wins out over your desire to take health and fitness seriously. We know our health is important, but it’s hard to be consistent.
I’m talking with Gary on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly about pursuing and maintaining strong, physical health, so we can be fit and effective in serving God’s kingdom.
Some parents believe you develop a child’s self-confidence by protecting them from adversity. That strategy seems reasonable, but it’s actually counter-productive. Children need love and support, but they also need challenges. Effective parenting isn’t about making children comfortable right where they are. It’s about encouraging them toward something even greater.
Let me give you a personal example: My father figures were difficult to respect. My biological father died from alcohol. My step dad abandoned me and my siblings the day of my mother’s funeral.
Parenting can be frustrating!
Authors Amber Lia and Wendy Speake thought they were the only moms who believed that. Then they interviewed other women and discovered that many struggle.
Anger catches many moms off guard. Stress slowly builds until something finally pushes them over the edge and then – boom! – an outburst. Shame quickly follows, which immediately translates into isolation and feelings of inadequacy.
For every brave mom who acknowledges a problem with anger, hundreds more wonder if they’re the only ones who struggle with it.
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.
