Family and Home Archives

“The most important book a parent will ever read” – Yours Free!

The rollercoaster ride of school closures and remote learning in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has put an extra bright spotlight on the classroom.

At the same time, pandemic or not, we regularly hear from parents who are concerned about their child’s education. It’s often about what their instructors are teaching. Other times it’s what they’re not being taught.

Lately, we’ve heard from moms and dads who feel like people of faith are increasingly unwelcome in public schools or that their deeply held convictions are incompatible with the curriculum.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: education December 2, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Helping Children Understand How They Feel

Kids experience big feelings inside little bodies, which means they can easily feel overwhelmed and confused. They don’t understand their feelings, so they don’t have the language to talk about them. And if they can’t talk about them, then they can’t ask for or receive help.

The problem for parents is that helping children identify their emotions and find words to express them is like trying to explain the color blue.

How can you help your children manage their feelings in healthy ways?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family December 1, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Seeing Christmas Through Women’s Eyes

Has it ever occurred to you how many holiday traditions sterilize the historical truth of Christmas?

This time of year, the joy of the season is everywhere. There are lights and decorations; the smell of cookies, pies, and freshly cut Christmas trees; and music that remind us of snow, sleighs, and reindeer.

But all of that beautiful imagery stands in stark contrast to the difficult circumstances surrounding the very first Christmas. Consider the lives of three women who lived it: Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: christmas, faith November 30, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Celebrating the Miracle of Thanksgiving

“The story of Squanto is one of the freakiest miracles in history.”

With an introduction like that, I know you’ll want to tune in to our radio program today while you’re preparing Thanksgiving dinner and keeping an eye on the football game.

Our guest, author and radio host Eric Metaxas, is sharing the true story of Squanto you’ve probably never heard. The very founding of our country might never have happened had Squanto not walked out of the woods and had his heart prepared by God, like Joseph when he was sold into slavery by his brothers (Genesis 37-50).

Topics: Family and Home Tags: thanksgiving November 26, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Thanksgiving — 20 things to still be grateful for in 2020 (yes, even in 2020)

If you’re already counting down the days till next year this Thanksgiving week, eager to be out with the old and in with the new, especially in this pandemic-torn year, I’d like to recommend that we still pause to count our blessings in 2020 – and even name them one by one.

Why?

Gratitude provides perspective and level sets today’s troubles, trials and tribulations.

I presume everyone could assemble their own individual list, but here are 20 things that I think many of us can be appreciative of as we approach Thursday’s celebration of Thanksgiving.

1. Doctors, nurses and medical professionals: Even at great risk to their own health, they have cared for millions of infected patients this year.

2. First responders: Because they’re willing to be available at all hours, you and I can sleep soundly each night.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: thanksgiving November 24, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Living in Peace with People Who Drive You Crazy

Although your family Thanksgiving and Christmas get-togethers may look different this year, you still may be worried about spending time with that one family member who is sure to make the holiday season … interesting. Whenever they’re near, there’s friction.

What can you do to manage that relationship better and find peace in the midst of chaos?

We’re having a conversation with Dr. Mike Bechtle, author of the book People Can’t Drive You Crazy If You Don’t Give Them the Keys, on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Living in Peace with People Who Drive You Crazy.”

Dr.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family November 24, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Encouragement for the Single Life

Life as a single adult can be daunting, especially when it comes to maintaining a high moral standard in a romantic relationship.

How can Christian women honor God in their dating?

Cheryl Martin asked herself that question many times over the years about her own singleness. She decided, “Until I’m married, I don’t want to endure my singleness. I want to enjoy it. And since I’m God’s child, I don’t want to be an average single.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: singleness November 23, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Practical Advice for Parenting Strong-Willed Children

Jean and I have a strong-willed boy. Over the years, we’ve joked that we were raising a lawyer-in-training. He could find a loophole in anything.

Once, Jean hosted a women’s tea and set out chocolates in the living room. She later discovered half the bowl was gone. When she asked him if he’d eaten all the chocolates, our son responded, “No,” without hesitation.

“You didn’t eat the chocolates?”

“Oh, I ate some of them. But you asked if I had eaten all of them.”

If you’ve got a strong-willed child, you’ve probably encountered situations like that.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: children, parenting November 19, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Embracing Messy, Beautiful Forgiveness

C.S. Lewis once said, “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea until they have something to forgive.”

Isn’t that true? We all want a fairy tale ending to our pain, but we struggle to do the messy, difficult work of forgiving someone who’s hurt us so deeply.

Lysa TerKeurst didn’t think she could ever forgive her husband after he engaged in a long, drawn-out affair. She misunderstood the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, thinking they existed together, like two sides of a coin.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: forgiveness November 17, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Bringing Laughter to Everyday Life

What’s the difference between a poorly dressed man on a tricycle and a well-dressed man on a bicycle?

Attire.

Get it?

Okay, so I’m not much of a comedian. Which is why you’ll enjoy our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Bringing Laughter to Everyday Life” with a real comedian, Tim Hawkins.

Tim finds humor in everyday circumstances. Like the video below, about a time when fixing breakfast for his children didn’t go so well.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family November 16, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura