Daly Focus Blog
There’s an old saying that “laughter is good for the soul.” It’s good for the soul of your marriage as well.
My wife Jean and I have certainly discovered that to be true. Some of our greatest memories involve laughing together. A few times, we’ve laughed so hard for so long that we forgot why we started laughing in the first place. We were laughing at each other’s laughing.
One thing that’s obvious after laughing yourself to tears with someone is how connected you feel afterward.
What’s your relationship with clutter Does it bring your comfort? Or fill you with anxiety?
We’re all a little different. Some of us don’t mind a little clutter, or see a good reason to pick up somebody’s else socks. Some of us feel a tidy home offers peace. We’re more calm if we’re not navigating scattered piles of things and activities.
Regardless of where you fall on the tidiness spectrum, there are ways to organize that increase the efficiency of your home, so you can maximize the time you devote to family and other priorities.
Would you forgive someone who shattered your life?
On a beautiful summer afternoon in 2015, Bryan Kuck and his wife, Lynn, went for a motorcycle ride. On their way home, less than a mile from their house, they were run off the road by a drunk driver whose blood alcohol level was four times the legal limit. Lynn was killed instantly. Bryan was critically injured with two crushed hips, a broken pelvis, and a left leg that was amputated after being pinned under the wreckage.
Back in the 80s, comedian Rich Hall did a routine called Sniglets. A Sniglet was any word that should be in the dictionary but isn’t. Like the word “snackmosphere.” That’s what he called the huge pocket of air inside a potato chip bag when you first open it. Or “Pepsiluvium.” That’s the soda that bubbles through the plastic lid when you push your straw through.
Sniglets illustrate the limitations of language. English currently uses more than 170,000 words.
Focus on the Family president Jim Daly issued the following statement today in response to the ongoing debate concerning pro-life legislative priorities:
“For nearly a half-century, pro-life activists working towards the reversal of Roe have known that returning the issue of abortion to the states would trigger this next season of passionate cultural debate concerning the defense of preborn life.
“Of late, there is predictable discourse over political strategy within the pro-life movement regarding calls for a national standard on gestational limits for abortion.
We all think we have strong faith. Until our world gets rocked.
An adverse diagnosis.
A child who loses their way.
A divorce.
The storms of life leave us shaken, wondering if God is really there.
Psalm 34:18 assures us that He is: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
What a comfort that is!
God’s presence has anchored author Michelle Cushatt’s life through the upheaval of many trials and difficulties.
The wear and tear of everyday life takes a toll on a marriage. On any given day you may face challenges in:
your faith
your church
extended family relationships
recreational opportunities
sexual intimacy
friendships
household responsibilities
finances
hectic schedules
a never-ending stream of parenting decisions
fill in the ___
Whew! Is it any wonder most marriages could use some maintenance?
The question is how do you fill your marriage with good things without it all becoming just more things to juggle?
Ron and Opal Erickson call themselves “musicianaires.” Ron is an accomplished steel guitarist, and Opal is an accomplished vocalist. They’ve made beautiful music together for over 40 years, not only as musicians but as a couple.
They’ve also walked through the rubble of a marriage that seemed irreparably broken. Through God’s grace and wisdom, they survived adultery, rejection, and betrayal and created a new marriage forged in trust, love, and grace.
God has done such a remarkable work in their marriage that I wanted to share their story on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Restoring Hope to Your Marriage.”
Opal shares how she stayed true to God in the wake of Ron’s affair, and how He taught her to love her husband in a new way.
Sooner or later, we lose the people we love.
That’s a very uncomfortable thought, but it’s true. Which begs an important question: “How do we live in the shadow of absolute loss and still enjoy a happy, fulfilled life?”
I like what legendary college basketball coach John Wooden had to say about that idea. He was 99 years old when a reporter asked if he was afraid to die. Coach Wooden didn’t have to stop and ponder his answer.
As the president of an organization called Focus on the Family, you might expect me to say something like, “Never argue with your spouse.” The truth is I believe that even the most healthy, well-rounded couples need to hash things out from time to time. The key is to disagree in ways that move your relationship forward.
To do that, first recognize that avoiding conflict doesn’t strengthen your marriage – it weakens it. That sounds counterintuitive, but it’s true. Unresolved conflict doesn’t magically disappear. It festers beneath the surface, deepening resentment and eroding emotional intimacy.
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.
