Jim Daly

Daly Focus Blog

Overcoming the Heartaches of Life

When Sheri Rose Shepherd was crowned Mrs. United States in 1994, the achievement felt the culmination of a long, hard journey.

People throughout her life stripped her of self-worth, driving their hate through her like a spike through her soul.

Her English teacher once told her, “Sheri Rose, you will never amount to anything in life.”

Another time, she received a gift in the mail from her mother. When Sheri Rose opened it, her birth certificate was inside with a sticky note that read, “I wish you had never been born.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags:

Equipping Your Kids to Resist Pornography

The stats on pornography use are alarming. Sixty-seven percent of young males view pornography on a regular basis. Porn use for this generation is no longer the exception – it’s the norm.

Many parents do the bare minimum when it comes to talking to their children about sex. They have “the talk” and encourage their children to pursue abstinence, but otherwise they sit back and hope that their kids stay pure for as long as possible.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: ,

If You Only Knew

There were a lot of guys in my high school who didn’t get along with their dads. Every day they’d complain about their fathers being strict and overbearing. And all I could do was think, “If you guys only knew how good you have it.”

At the time, I lived with my older brother Dave. He was a good brother, but he was no father figure. He didn’t set boundaries or establish any rules. And a curfew?

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags:

Redeemed Through Apocalypse

If an area of your life hasn’t become what you’d hoped, you need an apocalypse.

The word “apocalypse” usually brings to mind catastrophic end-of-the-world scenarios. Earthquakes, toppled buildings, destruction everywhere. But the Greek word for “apocalypse” doesn’t mean “destruction.” It means “to uncover or to reveal.”

An apocalypse is what happens in a court of law. Everything is exposed and measured against truth. There are no secrets. Nothing is off limits because it’s embarrassing … or worse yet, incriminating.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags:

Raising Kids with Healthy Boundaries

When my son Trent was assigned his first science project in fourth grade, Jean and I agreed to let him do the project all on his own. After all, the whole point was for him to learn, right?

Apparently, not every parent shared that view.

At the end of the semester, the school held an open house, so the children could show off their work. It was pretty obvious which parents had been too involved in their child’s schoolwork.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: ,

More Than a Bag of Bones

There’s no easy way for doctors to tell patients they’re going to die, but some ways are better than others. At the very least, I’m sure that you’d prefer a doctor take the time to meet with you in person, explain your condition, and answer your questions.

So, you can probably imagine what Ernest Quintana must have felt when he received bad news about his health. He was in his hospital bed anxiously awaiting his diagnosis when the door opened.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags:

Scratches, Cuts, and Lacerations

Married couples often think about conflict with each other in black and white terms. Solving problems is all or nothing – meaning every issue, no matter how small or insignificant, is argued over – or they go to the other extreme, no issue ever gets resolved, no matter how destructive it is to the relationship.

There’s a better way. Counselor and author Dr. Randy Schroeder encourages couples to view marital conflict in terms of scratches, cuts, and lacerations:

Scratches are superficial wounds caused by things like misunderstandings or thoughtless words.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags:

How God Restored a Military MArriage

“The loneliest place I’ve ever been in my life is not Afghanistan but in my own bed … with my wife’s back turned to me.”

That comment from veteran Chad Robichaux resonates with a lot of military couples who endure demands on their marriages that most civilians don’t understand.

After 9/11, Chad’s special ops unit did eight tours of duty in Afghanistan. Surviving the war-torn Middle East required good training and high levels of intense, adrenaline-fueled emotion.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: ,

Give Your All

Believe it or not, football and family have a lot in common. Maybe the most important similarity is this: half-hearted effort isn’t good enough. Both require you to give your all.

During my freshman year of high school, I hoped to play quarterback for our football team, but I had a lot of growing up to do. I wasn’t lazy, and I had all the physical abilities, but my broken childhood had led me to believe I wasn’t good enough.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags:

Learning to Love Others with the Heart of Jesus

When I think about living the Christian life, I am reminded of what Christ teaches in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).

The young man in the story blew his inheritance on foolish living. When he returned home, broke and humiliated, he feared that his father would disown him or, if he were merciful, hire him as a servant. Instead, his father loved him and celebrated his return, rejoicing that his lost son was now found.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags:

Daly Focus

Jim-Daly 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.

Jim Daly Blog

Home
About
Posting Guidelines
Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy
FAQs

© 2025 Focus on the Family

Connect with Me

Facebook
X
YouTube