Daly Focus Blog
If you made a list of all the bad things that you never thought would happen, what would you write down?
For some, picking up the broken pieces of your life and starting over again with a blended family might be at the top of that list.
This new chapter may have come about through death or divorce or some other circumstance, but the challenge is the same: how to overcome the difficulties common to blended families and give this new part of your life its best chance to thrive.
A few years ago, Jean and I held a special gathering on Easter Sunday. Our boys Trent and Troy were there, as were our two foster children – 8 and 10 – and a few friends and their children.
As I chatted with the adults in the living room, squeals of laughter erupted out of our kitchen. We all went to investigate and found Jean sitting on the floor covered by Easter grass, and surrounded by dozens of plastic Easter eggs, all opened and the contents strewn across the floor.
According to official reports, nearly 10,000 children arrived at our southern border last month without a parent – three times more than in February of 2020.
Although some are struggling to define and quantify the extent of the situation, there’s little doubt that it’s a growing humanitarian crisis, especially as facilities explode beyond capacity.
Why is this happening? What’s going on? And why should we care deeply about it?
While it seems obvious that many of those coming across the border believe President Biden’s immigration policies are more favorable to them than President Trump’s, this current crisis has been years in the making.
In part, it’s the combustion of tyrannical, oppressive regimes driving desperate people to exploit inconsistent and unenforced American immigration laws.
If you’re a parent, chances are you’ve grown accustomed to saying “no” – and for good reason.
By their very nature, children love to test the limits. If there’s an edge, you can bet they’ll find it.
Back when our sons, Trent and Troy, were young, I remember how they often wanted to go faster, higher, farther and deeper.
When we allowed them to watch one movie, they’d ask to make it a double feature. If one dessert was good, two would be better.
I love meeting new believers in Christ. Their faith is so alive and vibrant that it bubbles over into every area of life, and they want to serve and worship Him at every opportunity.
Do you remember feeling that way?
Unfortunately, we can lose passion for our faith over time. We get busy with work, children, and household responsibilities, and the fire that once burned bright for Christ begins to fade.
If you’re wondering how to keep your passion alive or to reignite it if it’s gone dull, tune in to our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Reigniting Your Passion for Jesus.” We’re speaking with Kim Meeder, author of the book Revival Rising: Embracing His Transforming Power.
Is your home a lighthouse?
The purpose of a lighthouse is to shine brightly through the darkness so that people on the open water can make it safely to shore.
That imagery illustrates the profound nature of the Christian life. In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus says, “You are the light of the world” and then encourages us to let our “light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven.”
A Christian’s home ought to shine with God’s love and grace and be welcoming to the neighborhood around it.
My wife, Jean, is a living embodiment of Proverbs 16:24: “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Every time I call her on the phone, she answers with a positive tone that lets me know she’s glad to hear from me. Her voice is a moment of respite for me in what can often be a busy and stressful schedule.
Positive words bless people, but it’s not always easy to speak them.
A lot of us should probably throw some stuff out. We’re bursting at the seams.
Did you know that America has more self-storage facilities than McDonald’s restaurants? At last count, there were 48,500 self-storage facilities in America compared to only 14,000 McDonald’s.
If your home is overwhelmed with clutter instead of being a place of comfort and peace, there’s something you can do about it.
Author and popular guest Kathi Lipp is with us on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Getting Rid of the Clutter in Your Home.” She’s a self-proclaimed recovering “clutter-aholic” with some great advice that will help you better understand the spiritual issues that are often behind clinging to your stuff.
“I’m pregnant.”
Would you know what to do if your teenage daughter made that announcement? It’s not a pleasant situation to think about. But it’s the moment of truth for you as a parent. How you react sets the tone of your relationship with your child moving forward.
When you first hear the news, you’ll feel like the floor has dropped out from beneath your family. It’s a scary, uncertain time for you and for your daughter.
Kids experience big feelings inside little bodies, which means they can easily feel overwhelmed and confused. They don’t understand their feelings, so they don’t have the language to talk about them. And if they can’t talk about them, then they can’t ask for or receive help.
The problem for parents is that helping children identify their emotions and find words to express them is like trying to explain the color blue.
How can you help your children manage their feelings in healthy ways?
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.
