Jim Daly

How Couples Can Work Through PTSD

Yesterday I wrote about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from the perspective of military marriages – what might couples expect after a war veteran returns home. Today I’m continuing this two-part series by sharing how couples can work through PTSD in a way that will make the marriage stronger than it ever was before.

One thing to remember is that it’s not only war vets who can struggle with PTSD. Experiencing any sort of trauma, like living through a natural disaster or a school shooting, can trigger PTSD.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage, relationships

Things to Remember About PTSD

With Veterans Day tomorrow, it’s hard for us at Focus on the Family to forget the many sacrifices the men and women of our armed forces make.

Colorado Springs is a military town. We have Army and Air Force bases here. NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, is located within our mountains. Every May, Focus employees stand on our ministry’s balcony and watch the Thunderbirds perform at the Air Force Academy graduations. Huge cargo planes fly overhead and rattle our houses.

Continue ReadingTopics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, marriage, relationships

Three Ways to Cherish the Differences in Your Spouse

They say opposites attract. And at first, the differences are what make each other loveable.

That’s why the introvert marries an extrovert.

The night owl ends up with a morning person.

The spender decides to get hitched with someone who’s really thrifty.

But after the wedding comes… life. And what was once cute is now irritating.

Why is she so soft with the kids? They need to learn some discipline or they’ll never grow up to be productive adults!

Continue ReadingTopics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, marriage

Read Encouraging Stories of Marriages Rescued from Divorce

Back in May, I shared with you the news that the National Institute of Marriage (NIM) was joining Focus on the Family. What made this coming together so exciting was NIM’s specialty is crisis intervention for marriages that are on the brink of divorce.

Through multiple-day intensive marriage retreats for couples who are literally out of options when it comes to salvaging their relationships, the counselors at NIM are able to offer solid, biblical counsel to these couples that help them achieve hope and healing.

Continue ReadingTopics: Focus Events Tags: divorce, marriage

Five Things Last Night’s Election Taught Us

Let the spinning begin.

Pundits and analysts from both sides of the political spectrum are deciphering, interpreting and calculating the impact of last night’s mid-term elections. Our own public policy analysts were up late into the night closely watching the returns from across the country.

What’s our take?

I’ve lived long enough and seen enough to subscribe to the old adage that rarely is anything as good as you hope for – or as bad as you fear.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, policy

How to Have a Happier Family

On yesterday’s program, the first in our two-part broadcast, “Game Plan for Having a Happier Family,” our guest, author Dr. Kevin Leman, challenged parents with something of a brainteaser:

Imagine your 14-year-old son announces he just gave the $200 he earned last summer to his buddy.

With a proud grin, he says he is now the co-owner of a used motorcycle.

The question is, how would you react in that moment?

Would it send your blood pressure through the roof and become a source of conflict between you and your child for days on end?

Continue ReadingTopics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, parenting

Encouraging Stories from “Bring Your Bible to School Day”

A few weeks ago, I encouraged families to consider taking part in the first-ever “Bring Your Bible to School Day,” sponsored by Focus’ Day of Dialogue free-speech and religious freedom initiative.

Today I want to share with you three amazing things God did through the Oct. 16 event and the students – some just elementary school-aged boys and girls – who participated.

1. “Bring Your Bible to School Day” received positive media attention nationwide
With this being the first year we were sponsoring the event, we kept our efforts small, spreading the word mainly through our website and local Christian radio stations, so families could prayerfully consider participation.

Continue ReadingTopics: Focus Events Tags: events, kids, policy, religious liberty

An Open Letter About Halloween

Peanuts creator Charles Schulz made a habit of dispensing advice through the mouths of cartoon characters, especially the blanket-carrying Linus van Pelt.

Like any offering of counsel, some of it is to be heeded and some of it is not.

“There are three things you must never discuss with people,” the comic strip’s philosopher/theologian once said, “religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin.”

Since we regularly wade into the first two topics anyway, we might as well go for broke and address the latter.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, pop culture

Two Women, Two Views on Dying with Dignity

Two weeks ago, Brittany Maynard’s op-ed, “My right to die with dignity at 29,” ran on CNN.com. In it, she shared about her diagnosis of brain cancer just a year into her marriage. Doctors told her she had only six months to live.

I can’t imagine receiving such a diagnosis at age 29. My heart breaks for this young woman and her family.

After talking with doctors and her family, she declined palliative care.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith, news, pro-life

Is Duck Dynasty’s John Luke Robertson Too Young to Get Married?

America’s favorite duck-hunting family is in the news again.

John Luke Robertson, the son of Duck Commander CEO Willie Robertson and wife, Korie, proposed to girlfriend Mary Kate McEacharn on his Oct. 11 birthday. According to John Luke, both families are supportive and “thrilled.”

While it seems most people are happy with the couple’s plans to wed, there is one thing some people seem to be criticizing: the couple’s tender age.

John Luke is only 19 years old.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: marriage, pop culture