family Archives

Permission to Fail

There’s a concept motivational speakers talk about called “failing forward.” It’s all about turning your mistakes into success. One of the best ways to instill that idea into your children is to give them permission to fail.

When my son Troy turned 12, he gave Little League a try. He was nervous. So was I. He had never played baseball before while the other kids had been at it four or five years already. I wondered how long it would be after Troy took the field for his inexperience to show through.

Topics: Uncategorized Tags: family, kids November 8, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Kids: You Gotta Love ‘Em

When times are hard, it’s important to enjoy some laughter.

That’s what we have in store with Kenn Kington, our guest on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly.

Kenn is a popular comedian and motivational speaker who has quite a knack for finding the humor in everyday moments with his wife and three kids.

I know you’ll enjoy his message. It’s fun. Yet it communicates an important point: Children mimic us! They are watching.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family November 4, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Speaking Your Adopted Child’s Love Language

Adoption is central to the heart of Christianity. Psalm 68:5 says God is a “father of the fatherless.” Through faith, we are adopted into His family.

Adoption is central to Dr. Laurel Shaler’s heart as well. She’s a counselor, author, and professor at Liberty University, and she and her husband have adopted three children – two in infancy and one through embryo adoption. A medical condition prevented her from conceiving, but her heart was to be a mother, even if she couldn’t be pregnant, give birth, or have biological children.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family November 1, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Integrity Matters

Integrity matters. It’s the bedrock of good character. Integrity is so important that we expect it from people we don’t even know.

That was proven true years ago on the television sitcom Friends, one of the most popular shows in the 1990s and early 2000s. Just how loyal fans of the show were became clear during season five. Lead character Chandler Bing falls in love with another lead character, Monica Geller. They eventually become engaged and got married.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family October 31, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Experiencing a Fulfilled Marriage

Do you believe that God can save any marriage?

Patricia Ashley didn’t always think so. At one time, her marriage to Vernon was dead. She says, “I didn’t love my husband. I didn’t hate him. I wasn’t glad to see him come. I wasn’t glad to see him go. It didn’t make a difference what time he came in or if he came in at all. It was dead.”

They were so isolated from each other that they were divorced in almost every way – emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family October 30, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Discovering Your Spiritual Temperament

How do you connect with God?

Is your faith inspired by beautiful art? Worship music? Serving others? Confronting evil in society? Some people love cathedrals or worshiping outside. Others prefer the comfort of their home church.

Although most of us have been taught one approach to spiritual growth – daily “quiet time,” Bible study, prayer, and weekly church attendance – we all have different personalities, likes and dislikes, and spiritual giftings, each of which bring a unique perspective to our understanding of the person of Jesus and the salvation He brings to the world.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family October 24, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Honesty and Respect

My wife Jean and I have been married since 1986. One of the most important lessons about marriage I’ve learned in that time has been this: We’re different from one another, and that’s okay. But we’ve also learned that those differences have to be navigated carefully.

You and your spouse probably see the world through different eyes, too. You fall asleep to noise, but your spouse needs quiet. You’re a night owl, but your spouse enjoys mornings.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage October 23, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Nurturing Your Child’s Purpose and Passion

God has vision. He sees not just who people are, but what they can become.

People looked at David and saw a shepherd boy; God saw a king. Peter denied the Lord three times, but Jesus called him a “rock” and used him to build His church.

Effective parenting also requires vision. Every child struggles to find his or her identity. Engaged parents look beyond where their child is right now and catch a vision for who he or she can become.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family October 18, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Making Daily Choices to Love Your Spouse

Theresa had a stroke 18 years ago. She lost control over her hands. Which means for all these years she’s struggled to do simple things in life, like styling her own hair. That’s why when she goes to the beauty salon, she leaves with a smile. She feels beautiful.

The trouble is, as soon as she washes her hair it falls flat, and she can’t get it to look the way her stylist does. Which means, until her next hair appointment comes around, Theresa doesn’t smile as much.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage October 10, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Shouting the Worth of Every Person

“Birds of a feather flock together.”

That saying means we feel most comfortable around people who look like us, talk like us, and think like us. Though natural, that tendency often costs us the opportunity to learn from and build relationships with people who hold different perspectives than we do.

Diversity is rooted in God’s character more than we often imagine. He creates human beings in His image, so every person is God’s image-bearer. Each person gives us a unique opportunity to know God more fully and to better appreciate what it means to be fully human.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family October 7, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura