Daly Focus Blog
I refused to go to kindergarten.
On my first day, I dug in my heels and wouldn’t walk to school with my siblings. I told my mom no and meant it. I was so stubborn about it that she personally had to usher me down the block and into the building.
I didn’t want to go, but I’m glad I did because something magical happened that first morning.
Her name was Mrs. Smith. My kindergarten teacher.
Most of us have been angry enough to say something spiteful. But a man named Charles Froling got so angry that he built an entire house to express his spite.
In 1908, Charles inherited a patch of land from a relative in Alameda, California. He planned to build a home there, but the city refused to grant him permission. Instead, they appropriated most of his land, so they could build a new city road. Charles appealed to his neighbor for help, but his neighbor was afraid that the city would take his property, too, so he chose not to get involved.
Young people in America and Europe are leaving the Christian church at an unprecedented rate. Statistically, this generation is the least religious in history. Teenagers, in particular, are turning toward atheism at a rate double that of the general population.
Many struggle to believe claims made by the Bible. Or to reconcile faith in a loving God with evil and suffering in the world. Some cite bad experiences with a church or conflict with a Christian as their reason for doubt.
If marriage makes the headlines these days it’s usually for negative reasons, such as a recent survey indicating that while eighty-three percent of young people would like to get married someday, eighty-five percent of them think an official union isn’t necessary to “have a fulfilling and committed relationship.”
According to official statistics, marriage rates have dropped 60 percent over the last fifty years, and those cohabitating have risen exponentially. Not surprisingly, singleness is also going up.
Who is smarter? Albert Einstein? Or your neighborhood auto mechanic?
A lot of people would answer Einstein. But if Einstein’s car broke down on the side of the road, his ability to untangle physics’ greatest mysteries would be useless. In that moment, what he’d need is an understanding of the inner workings of the combustion engine.
Intelligence is relative to our circumstances. So is athletic ability. J.J. Watt, the former pro football player and Defensive Player of the Year, was a stellar athlete.
“Here’s the story of a lovely lady, who was bringing up three very lovely girls…”
You could probably finish that theme song from memory. The Brady Bunch portrayed the quintessential television family of the early 1970s, largely through its wholesome, albeit simplistic, depiction of a blended family.
But while problems are easily resolved in 30 minutes in the world of television sitcoms, things are rarely that simple in real life. Rebuilding a family is closer to Gil and Brenda Stuart than to Mike and Carol Brady.
From the “strange but true” file comes this unusual story of selfish entitlement.
Twenty-seven-year-old Raphael Samuel filed a lawsuit against his parents because – get this – they didn’t seek his permission before giving birth to him. Because of that oversight, he said, his parents were obligated to pay his expenses for the rest of his life.
Talk about selfishness run amuck. Instead of feeling gratitude for everything his parents did to sacrifice and give him a good life, Raphael chose what has become a common attitude – entitlement.
Now that my boys are grown, I’m looking back at that part of life as a wonderful time. I really loved being a dad. Sure, there were challenging moments, but the rewards of parenting have always far outweighed the difficulties. In fact, a lot of our memories were joyous. Many were centered around laughter.
It’s important for families to keep a sense of humor and laugh with each other.
In that spirit, I have some fun stories for you to hear on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Parenting Struggles and What They Teach.”
Our guest, author Ken Swarner, is throwing his family under the bus … with their permission, of course.
Author Rhonda Stoppe thought she was prepared to be a great mom … until she gave birth to her second child, a son. Rhonda felt inadequate to be his mother. Raising a daughter felt easy. Raising a son felt intimidating.
Many moms can relate. They understand how their daughters think, feel, and see the world. Not so their sons. My wife, Jean, did an amazing job of adapting to our two boys and creating a meaningful connection with both, but she worked hard it.
According to the National Science Foundation, people think an average of 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day.
Eighty percent of those thoughts are negative.
And 90% of those thoughts are repetitive.
That’s why author Ted Lowe – the founder and director of MarriedPeople.org, an organization dedicated to strengthening marriages – says one of the best things you can do for your marriage is learn how to change your mind.
Embracing a positive mindset boosts confidence, wards off depression and anxiety, and helps manage stress.
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.
