Jim Daly

Daly Focus Blog

FOTF logo
  • Home
  • Family & Home
  • Current Events
  • Focus News
  • About

No More Perfect Parenting

Friends: Three policemen were killed yesterday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. You can read my thoughts about this terrible news on my Facebook page. -JD

***

Have you ever felt like a trapped monkey?

Neither had I until a friend described to me how other cultures hunt for monkeys.

The hunters hollow out a coconut and fasten it to a tree with a rope. Inside the coconut, they put a small portion of food that can be reached through a small hole. But when the monkeys grab the food, their fists won’t fit back through the hole.

They’re trapped.

But the monkeys aren’t ensnared by anything physical. They’re stuck because they refuse to let go of the one thing they’re holding onto so tightly.

We can act a lot like that, too.

Women in particular often feel intense pressure to be an outstanding wife, a fantastic mother, and to keep a beautiful home all while having a vibrant and meaningful career. They’re chasing an impossible standard based on an ideal woman who doesn’t really exist. No wonder so many women have a hard time accepting failure or embracing the season of life they’re in.

They need to learn to let go.

Our guest on today’s and tomorrow’s program, author and popular speaker Jen Hatmaker, says women can release themselves from unrealistic standards of perfection and learn to embrace God’s grace in their parenting, in their marriage, and in their daily lives.

She urges women to reject the idea of “balance.” Many women are not only struggling to do it all, but to do it all perfectly. Without all of those plates spinning, they feel they’re not achieving anything extraordinary – for God or for themselves. They’re just slogging it out, being a wife, raising children, or working a job that isn’t changing the world.

But what if, in their everyday lives, women used the gifts God has given them and learned to let go of the need to do something extraordinary? What if women understood that God wants to work through their lives right now?

You don’t have to serve the Lord on a grand scale to see the fruit of God’s kingdom in your life. His will for you can be expressed to you daily right where you are in this season and stage of your relationship with Him.

Jen Hatmaker is an author, speaker, well-known blogger, and a pastor’s wife. She and her husband, Brandon, lead Austin New Church in Texas.

Jen will be with us on the next couple of programs we’re calling “Letting Go of Perfection and Accepting God’s Grace.” She’ll help women ask God questions like: “How can I see Your kingdom in my life today?” “Should I speak to someone about You?” “What am I doing with the tasks you’re putting into my hands today?”

Feeling God’s grace and presence in a woman’s daily life can go a long way toward easing some of the pressure she feels … and help her let go.

Hear our conversation with Jen on your local radio station, or tune in anytime online or via our free, downloadable mobile phone app.

Sign up for the weekly e-newsletter

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, family July 18, 2016 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Related Posts

  • Experiencing God’s Blessings in Our Moments of Rest
  • Fun and Faith-Based Activities to Do with Your Kids
  • Single Mom of Boys

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Jim-Daly President of Focus on the Family
Jim Daly
with Paul Batura

Listen to Jim’s
New Podcast

ReFocus with Jim Daly

Newsletter Sign Up

Posts by Jim

Seek Fear

Improve Yourself, Improve Your Relationships

Paying Respects to Our Nation’s Fallen Heroes

Topics

  • Current Events
  • Family and Home
  • Focus Events
  • Uncategorized

Daly Focus

Jim-Daly 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.

Jim Daly Blog

Home
About
Posting Guidelines
Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy
FAQs

© 2025 Focus on the Family

Connect with Me

Facebook
X
YouTube