The longer I’ve been married, the more I’ve realized that it’s not big things that make or break a marriage. It’s little things. Sure, problems like infidelity, addiction, or abuse can devastate a relationship and are not to be underestimated. But, in most cases, the difference between healthy and unhealthy couples is they’ve learned the secret of serving each other by performing a multitude of small, simple gestures that show affection and devotion to one another.
Proven Strategies for Establishing Healthy Boundaries with Your Kids
If you’re a parent, you’re surely familiar with the word “no” – and for good reason. Children love to test the limits.
When our boys, Trent and Troy, were young, they were determined to go faster, higher, and farther. If one dessert was good, two was better. Instead of watching one movie, they’d want a double feature. If their bedtime was 9 o’clock, they’d push for 10.
Since children can’t resist climbing trees or splashing in mud puddles in their new shoes, the word “no” is a vital tool.
Being the Man Your Family Needs
There’s a lot of talk these days about “toxic masculinity.” It’s a term that describes masculinity gone wrong, an image of what men are not supposed to be.
Author Brant Hansen says that many men – especially many young men – don’t know what they are supposed to be.
The culture routinely deconstructs, but we rarely construct. Men need a vision for what is distinctly and inherently good about masculinity, and we find it in God, who creates men for a purpose.
Unlock the Secrets to a Financially Secure Marriage
People often think financial problems are caused by a lack of money. Sometimes. But it’s usually our perceptions of money that affect how we spend and how we save.
Matt Bell, author and managing editor at Sound Mind Investing, can attest to that. In his mid-twenties, he received $60,000 from an uncle – more money than he could spend. Or so he thought. He used the money to create a job in which he travelled internationally to luxury golf courses and published a golf newsletter.
How to Free Your Child from Addictive Screen Habits
Author Melanie Hempe says, “I look back and feel like I was the drug dealer for my own kid.”
She was describing her son’s addiction to technology. In elementary school, Adam got good grades and was involved in extracurricular activities. But in middle school he became addicted to video games and began dropping out of sports and social activities. Then, she says, “He began dropping out of our family.”
She assumed video games were safe. They were made for children, after all.
Help for When Motherhood Feels Overwhelming
Motherhood can be tough, especially in the early years.
Three moms – Ashley Durand, Kristen Rusch, and Dr. Jenny Coffey – are joining me on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly to share what to do when you’re giving everything you’ve got to motherhood but running on fumes.
Ashley promised herself she’d never discipline out of anger, but then a trip to the library with her toddler ended in disaster. When it was time to go, he threw himself to the floor and began crying and screaming.
Foster Care: How Everyone Can Help
In my opinion, every believer has a role to play in foster care.
That’s a big statement, I know, but it’s true. We’re not all called to do the same thing or to carry the same load, of course, but we’re all capable of doing something. The ultimate goal, as I see it,is for every believer to feel empowered with a sense of direction for how God wishes to use us.
The Apostle Paul told us the body of Christ functions this way:
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
Enjoying Marriage at Any Age
“For a good time, call HOME!”
That’s not a bumper sticker (although it could be). It’s actually pastor and author Ted Cunningham’s way of encouraging men and women to invest in their marriage because you get out of your relationship what you put into it. Enjoying marriage is a decision – a choice you make – not something you achieve by passively hoping for good things to come your way.
After the honeymoon ends, the relationship often goes by the wayside.
Coaching Boys to Develop Healthy Respect for Girls
Culture confuses young men about how to treat women – like, when does romance step over the line into something inappropriate?
Let me offer an example of one man’s behavior, and you decide whether or not it was acceptable.This man was interested in a female co-worker who had been giving him the cold shoulder for months. One day, when she was alone, he snuck up behind her, took hold of her hand, and caressed it without her permission.
Helping Your Child Approach Anxiety, Bullying, and Identity
When I was a child, bullying took place almost exclusively at school. Nowadays, thanks to technology, bullying can happen anytime, anywhere.
• According to national surveys, bullying affects about 20% of kids aged 12-18.
• Pew Research reports that cyberbullying (name calling, threats, receiving inappropriate images, etc.) is experienced by almost 60% of kids.
• According to Barna, 39% of young people report that bullying has contributed to them feeling uncertain about the future and anxious when making important decisions.
