Jim Daly

Are you “organizationally challenged”?

Keeping a house tidy and organized is a challenge for a lot of us, especially those of us who have young children. It’s like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos. When children are older, they can participate in house cleaning and common tasks like laundry and dishes, but what’s the best way to get them involved?

With me on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly is Kristi Clover. She’s a home organization expert and a mom of five kids ranging from preschool to young adults.

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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 one day 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 each day is the culmination of little decisions that stack up over time.

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The most effective parents are visionaries.

Let me tell you about Tom. As a young boy, he developed a hearing problem. It caused him a lot of trouble at school. Tom’s mind constantly wandered, making him disruptive in class, which frustrated his teachers. They considered him “stupid, restless, and a slow learner who asked too many questions.” All in all, his public education was a complete failure.

If that were your son, I’m sure you’d be concerned.

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Thanks to the Internet and social media, we’re more connected to each other than ever. At least, we like to think we are. The fact of the matter is quite different.

Just a few years ago, only ten percent of Americans said they were lonely. According to recent research, that number has nearly doubled. The very technology we thought would draw us closer together is making us feel more isolated instead.

Our need for human connection is wired into our DNA.

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Every couple experiences transitions in marriage. Believe it or not, most of them are predictable – in some cases unavoidable. You’re no doubt familiar with the “baby makes three” phase and the “empty-nest years.” Between those two are other transitions that will significantly impact your time, energy, and relationship with each other. For a healthy marriage, it’s important to handle these transitions in ways that strengthen your marriage instead of causing rifts.

According to relationship experts Bill and Pam Farrel, women tend to reevaluate their lives between their late 20’s and late 30’s.

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I loved every stage of raising my two boys, Trent and Troy. I enjoyed them as babies. I enjoyed their energy as little boys. I enjoyed watching them grow up and become young, godly men. My greatest honor and privilege in life has been to be their dad. I’m sure you feel the same way about your children.

Nevertheless, I’m sure you’d also agree that some seasons of parenting can be challenging.  Raising kids well is inconvenient.

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A good marriage is like good music.

To understand what I mean, think about your favorite song. No doubt one reason it moves you the way it does is the voice of the lead singer. But more than you realize, the backing vocals are what bring a song’s melody alive. Background singers harmonize with the lead vocals, giving the song’s melody a richness the lead singer could never achieve alone.

In a similar way, couples who make beautiful music together are those who surround themselves with background singers – like family members, close friends, or a marriage counselor – someone who encourages them forward when the marriage journey gets difficult.

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