Daly Focus Blog
Most Americans believe that the secret to happiness is having more, going faster, or working harder. In reality, happiness is a byproduct of balance.
Balance is hard. Our natural tendency is to overreach, to go too far, and to want too much. It’s like the reporter who asked billionaire John D. Rockefeller who, when asked “How much money is enough?” answered, “Just a little bit more.”
We all answer, “Just a little bit more,” in some area of life.
Few things damage a marriage more than adultery.
Nevertheless, it is possible for couples who have experienced the devastation of an affair to find healing, forgiveness, and restoration.
Rick and Tiffany Bulman, founders of Mended Ministries, help conflicted couples strengthen and rebuild their marriages. They can attest to God’s ability to redeem relationships. They’ve seen it happen in countless marriages, including in their own.
Rick and Tiffany’s relationship looked good on the surface. They had four happy teenagers and were actively involved in the church where Rick served as senior pastor.
Friday’s release of footage from Tyre Nichols’s fatal traffic stop in Memphis earlier this month has justifiably sickened, saddened and horrified the nation. Images of Mr. Nichols being repeatedly kicked and beaten with batons is gruesome and unconscionable.
Five police officers have been fired and charged with second-degree murder. This week, two additional officers with a connection to the incident were taken off duty.
It’s difficult to watch the body cam footage, and painful to read about the details surrounding the incident.
Winter can stir up sadness within the happiest of hearts. Depending on where you live, the weather can be dreary this time of year. The days are short, the air is cold, and clouds often hide the sun for weeks.
If you’re struggling to escape the winter blues, take heart – spring is coming! The days are growing longer, and in just a few weeks, the temperature will get warmer. Before long, you’ll see signs of new life – blue skies will appear and flowers and green grass will emerge.
In Colorado, we’re locked in the throes of winter. Cold. Snow. Ice.
I can’t wait for the return of summer because summer means camping for my family. We love getting outdoors. We love parking our fifth wheel in some remote location where the sounds of nature aren’t drowned out by cars and busyness.
When there’s a lake nearby, the first thing my boys do is grab rocks to throw into the water. The bigger the better.
Every day society offers a skewed idea about what’s valuable. And far too often, we buy into the hype. Parents work longer and harder in a never-ending quest for bigger houses, newer cars, and the latest technology. Eventually, the stuff we own overshadows what really matters. And what really matters dwindles away.
We need ambition. But, even more, we need our ambition to be governed by larger priorities: namely our marriage and our family.
Over 150 years ago, an unnamed soldier wrote a poem that put life into focus.
Standing for what’s right isn’t always easy. But it pays off in the end.
A man named Joseph Lister is a good example of this. Believe it or not, until 1870, surgeries were conducted without sterilization. That’s right. Back then, doctors didn’t wash their hands before surgery. Neither did anyone sterilize the patient, the room, or the surgical instruments. Germ theory was just beginning to be discovered, and the medical profession didn’t believe that bacteria caused illness.
Chad Robichaux comes from a long line of military service members. His grandparents fought in World War II and Korea. His father served in Vietnam, and both of Chad’s sons served in the Marines. Chad was himself a force recon Marine who did eight deployments to Afghanistan.
Chad recalls when his vehicle was surrounded by Taliban armed with AK-47 assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. His unit referred to dangerous situations like that as “being on the X” – the X representing the center of a target.
Every father I meet has the same goal: to be a good dad. But how do you know when you’ve been one? Parenting can be tough, and it’s easy for men to question how good of a job they’re doing. In times like those, men need a moment to hold onto.
Some time back, my son Trent and I were on a father/son retreat. One night, we all sat around the campfire, and the kids were given the chance to honor their fathers.
Has one of your children ever thrown a world-class fit in a store?
My son Trent did that once when he was little. I was out of town, and Jean was alone with him in the checkout aisle. Trent wanted a candy bar and had a meltdown when his mom told him no.
Jean was a new mom and was embarrassed that she couldn’t get Trent under control. Fortunately, a man dressed in a military uniform intervened and told Trent, “Son, you need to listen to your mother.”
I don’t know who that man was, but I say, “Thank you.”
Situations like that frequently happen to moms and dads, but it’s not always clear how to respond.
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.
