Daly Focus Blog
Give her an opportunity, and Pamela Christian will gladly tell you about the day she died.
It all began during an afternoon of tennis with girlfriends. She had been battling stomach problems all morning, a problem she dismissed as indigestion. But after a few practice swings, she started feeling short of breath and lightheaded, too much for the amount of exertion her warmup required.
In a matter of minutes, she began vomiting and collapsed to the ground.
Do you feel like a failure as a parent?
At Focus on the Family, we hear from thousands of parents who do.
Formulaic parenting is a common reason for this. It’s the go-to method for a lot of moms and dads. They believe that parenting ought to be predictable. The right input should guarantee the right outcome. When it doesn’t, they wonder, “What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with my child?”
A better approach is something called “trust-based relational parenting,” an idea that many say has revolutionized their parenting.
Is racism the biggest problem facing the black community?
Dr. Shelby Steele doesn’t think so. Dr. Steele, himself an African American, is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, specializing in the study of race relations, multiculturalism, and affirmative action.
He believes “the single worst and most overwhelming problem, bar none” facing the black community is the breakdown of the black American family. Black women get married at half the rate and divorced at twice the rate of white women.
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
If you’re single, have you applied that verse to your dating relationships and search for a godly spouse?
Many Christian singles seek the same things in a mate as non-Christian singles. They focus on whether or not they’re physically attracted, share common interests, enjoy each other’s company, or share chemistry.
Each trait has its place in a marriage, but none provide a relationship with the stability a couple needs to build a life together.
Just weeks after the social media giant Twitter blocked Focus on the Family’s Twitter account, it was announced earlier this week that YouTube had banned and removed all videos from LifeSite News, one of the internet’s most popular venues for pro-life information.
Their offense?
A spokesperson for YouTube suggested the pro-life site violated its COVID-19 misinformation policy.
“In accordance with our long-standing strikes system, we terminated the channel LifeSite News Media for repeatedly violating our COVID-19 misinformation policy, which prohibits content that promotes prevention methods that contradict local health authorities or WHO,” the spokesperson said.
The COVID-19 toll is often tallied and reported in terms of deaths, hospitalizations and overall cases of the virulent pathogen.
Yet, data is beginning to show that the tragic consequences of the year-long pandemic extend far beyond the physical and into the financial, emotional, mental and spiritual dimensions of our lives.
Here at Focus on the Family, our counselors report a steady uptick in calls from hurting individuals. In fact, it’s not just that we’re hearing from more people than usual – but that the challenges they’re sharing with us seem to be darker and more devastating than ever before.
I don’t cook dinner very often. I think Jean prefers it that way. Her degree is in biochemistry. Not only is she smart, but she naturally thinks in terms of precision. Recipes are to be followed. If the instructions call for one cup of flour, she’ll measure exactly one cup. She’ll even use a knife to scrape off the excess, so the amount is perfect. She’ll even add more if it’s not quite full.
As for me, well, let’s just say I’m a “free spirit.” Scraping away excess flour is a waste of time to me.
The data is alarming.
According to the National Alliance of Mental Health, more than 17 million U.S. adults – over seven percent of the population – had at least one major depressive episode in the last year.Over 40 million adults in the U.S. – 19 percent of the population – have dealt with some form of anxiety.According to the CDC, 3,000 teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17 attempt suicide every day.
If depression is a struggle for you, you’re not alone.
What is God’s love language?
I’m sure your familiar with Dr. Gary Chapman’s take on the five love languages:
AffirmationActs of serviceQuality timeReceiving giftsPhysical touch
Understanding the concept helps us strengthen our relationship with our spouse and with our children by expressing love to them in the specific ways they feel that love. The five love languages are how we feel love from others as well.
Because we were created in God’s image, we each feel God’s love and presence primarily in one or two of these ways.
Let me tell you about a boy named Tom. At an early age, he developed a hearing problem, which caused him a lot of trouble at school. He was easily distracted. He frustrated his teachers by disrupting the class and steering the conversation in random directions. His teachers considered him “stupid, restless, and a slow learner who asked too many questions.” Tom’s public education was a complete failure.
If that were your child, how would you react?
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.
