You’d think I’d have marriage down pat by now. My wife, Jean, and I have been married almost 40 years. I’ve also spent the majority of my career leading an organization that helps families thrive. Nevertheless, while I believe I’m becoming all that God desires of me, I’ll always be an imperfect work in progress.

But I guess that’s true of all of us. Whether you’ve been married as long as me or you’re a newlywed, all of us can take small steps and grow as a husbands and wives.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family May 6, 2025 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The empty nest years can be a “tight ring season.”

That’s a term coined by Marci Seither and her husband after a customer hired the Seithers’ sawmill in Northern California to remove a huge tree from the spot where their new home would be built. Feeling it a shame to lose such a beautiful tree, the homeowners planned to recycle the lumber by using it in the house’s construction.

But once they cut down the tree, they discovered the wood was too weak to use.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family May 5, 2025 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Everyone is chasing significance of some kind:

Achievement.

Recognition.

Wealth.

Power.

Popularity.

Success. 

But when “the chase” takes center stage, the busyness and focus required can leave us with no energy to offer our most important relationships.

How can we prioritize our marriage and family in light of all the responsibilities that demand our attention each day?

Authors Josh and Christi Straub are answering that question on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly. They believe couples can transform their relationship by becoming the president of their spouse’s “fan club.” That means focusing on what matters, championing their strengths, and encouraging them to become the best version of themselves – that is, who God designed them to be.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family April 29, 2025 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Many parents feel anxious about the growing number of negative cultural influences that reduce the possibility that this generation will base their lives in the Christian faith. According to statistics, 45-48% of children today leave church after college and never return. Many disconnect from their faith even earlier.

This poses a significant challenge for parents. While it’s wise to monitor your children’s exposure to music, videos, and social media, they also need to learn discernment. Most situations are a mixture of good and bad.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family April 28, 2025 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Author Melanie Shankle says each of us has dragons to face. She means life is a journey in which we continually encounter difficult situations, learn to trust God, and by His grace grow through adversity.

Sometimes the dragons we have to slay are those that rise up from our past via an unhealthy, even toxic, childhood. If this describes, you, Melanie shares your pain. Like you she grew up in a household shaped by abuse, manipulation, or alcoholism.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family April 24, 2025 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The late Steve Farrar believed Psalm 23 was the most dangerous Psalm in the Bible – dangerous because we know it so well that it loses its deep meaning and significance. The Psalm is only six verses long, but each one is potent and pregnant with meaning.

David, who wrote Psalm 23, could have written from the perspective of the shepherd. Instead, he wrote it from the perspective of the sheep. God’s people are called “sheep” over 200 times in the Bible.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family April 22, 2025 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

As you’ll hear on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, Paul and Melody Westbrook’s marriage suffered in ways familiar to many couples. He was a driven man who found his worth and identity in his work. He felt comfortable in a room full of people, but not alone with his wife. Time with Melody had to have a purpose, a reason to be together other than simply enjoying her presence.

Melody persevered but, as the years rolled on, Melody felt more and more ignored and unimportant, and her resentment ate away at her love for Paul.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family April 11, 2025 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura