Daly Focus Blog
Thomas Edison is famous for saying, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
Something similar can be said for God’s blessings.
We’ll readily accept good news as a sign of God’s presence. But when trouble strikes, we’re prone to question why He’s abandoned us.
It’s not unusual for God’s activity in and through our lives to be wrapped in the skin of challenging circumstances. That’s often the case when a child is diagnosed with autism.
This is a fact.
Boys learn to become men in the company of other men as they walk and grow through the challenges of life together.
But in disturbing numbers across our culture, that isn’t happening.
In fact, our video curriculum, The Family Project, reveals the tale of the tape.
Sadly, statistics show that 85 percent of men in prison didn’t have a dad while growing up. Seventy percent of teen suicides occur in homes where there isn’t a dad.
By nearly all accounts, the theatrical debut of “The Drop Box” was an unprecedented success, with more than 275,000 people attending the film throughout North America during its limited run.
In fact, we’ve heard from countless viewers who’ve expressed their appreciation via emotional and heartfelt testimonials. Some have told us the documentary inspired them to begin caring for foster children and start the adoption process. I can’t wait to hear their stories in the coming months and years.
If you’re a new stepmom, you may be entering into one of the toughest jobs a woman can have. It’s not easy to bring together the remnants of two families and make them one.
Forging genuine relationships between new siblings and step-parents takes time … and lots of it.
Even under the most ideal circumstances.
There’s no way to know how long children may grieve the loss of their original family and everything that went with it.
A news roundup on the issues that matter most.
“How Many Kids Grow Up With Their Married Mom and Dad?”: Less than half, according to a new report by the Family Research Council. It finds 54 percent of 15- to 17-year-olds do not live in a home with their married mother and father.
The story of Pastor Lee-Jon-rak and his baby box – the topic of Focus’ upcoming film, “The Drop Box” – has earned a lot of media attention since the original article in the L.A.
Vince Lombardi was the legendary football coach of the Green Bay Packers. Throughout the 1960s, his teams dominated the National Football League. But their astounding success was not the result of new and innovative ways to play the game. It was quite the opposite.
In fact, one notorious example demonstrates how adamant Coach Lombardi was that his players master the fundamentals. At the beginning of training camp the year after one of the team’s most successful seasons, Lombardi gathered his men for a pep talk.
Maybe you know this feeling a little too well.
You see other families from the outside, and they look exactly like what you envision a good Christian home to be. Their children don’t squabble, and they obey their parents with almost gleeful enthusiasm. Life seems perfect.
But your reality seems a lot different. You break up two or three spats between the kids before you even leave for church. And once you get there, you paint a smile on your face and answer everybody’s, “How’re you doing?” with a robotic, “I’m great.”
But deep inside you know things aren’t great.
Who doesn’t enjoy a good laugh? I think we all do. As legendary comedian Bob Hope once said, laughter is an “instant vacation.”
My family can attest to that. We love to laugh together. It bonds us together and enables joy, love, and grace to flourish in our home.
Simply put, laughter helps make our house a pleasant place to be. The more we laugh the more we enjoy one another’s company, and that strengthens our relationships.
After a few years of Super Bowl commercials featuring Dad as the butt of too many jokes, it seems like this year may be in for a refreshing change. There are two pre-released game day ads that show fathers in a positive light.
First up is Dove Men + Care’s 60-second spot, “#RealStrength,” which shows children of various ages calling their dads and ends with the tagline “Care Makes a Man Stronger.” It’s so well-made it’s likely many viewers will be left with tears in their eyes.
I think almost every parent can relate to this scenario:
You give your 6-year-old a clear instruction to follow. But instead of doing what he’s told, he looks at you and, with a straight face asks, “Why?”
Believe it or not, how you respond to that question as a parent is more crucial than you might think.
There was a time in our society when a “Why do I have to?” from a child would get an immediate “Because I said so” from the parent.
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.
