Daly Focus Blog
Many women feel overwhelmed. They’re busy from morning until night yet still don’t seem to have enough time for important things like devotions, exercise, friendships, sleep, or quality time with their families.
My wife, Jean, did a great job of keeping our family and household in order during our parenting years. But some days the strain she was under was tough. Like the evening I came home from work and Jean met me at the door.
Prayer is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your marriage.
You’ve probably heard that advice and believe it. But prayer still falls by the wayside when life gets busy and responsibilities demand your time and attention.
On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Praying for Your Marriage Is Essential,” our guest, Jodie Berndt, is answering how to incorporate prayer into your marriage in a way that not only helps you grow closer to your spouse but deepens your relationship in Christ.
My wife, Jean, loves decorating for Christmas. If you step into our garage, you’ll notice an assortment of nearly 30 boxes and plastic bins in the rafters. They’re filled with all of the Christmas decorations we’ve accumulated over the decades. I pull everything down and haul it into the house, so Jean can do her thing. I love how beautiful our home looks when she’s done.
One year, I offered to help her. For an hour, I hung icicles on the tree and talked to her while she set up our snow village.
The ancient Stoic philosophers often employed an exercise known as “premeditatio malorum” – or the premeditation of evils. In short, they would conjure up in their minds how bad things could happen to them and then do the exact opposite, believing good things would inevitably and invariably come from such activity.
Today, we call this practice the “Law of Inversion” – and it can be equally effective when pondering how best to help our children and teens grow into responsible and successful adults.
This practice recently came to mind thanks to my friend, Holly, who has been teaching at a Christian college for more than two decades.
It’s that time of year again: time to think about what to get your children for Christmas. The pressure is real. Every year, retailers and toy and tech companies offer up a never-ending buffet of games and gadgets. There’s a lot to choose from, and some of it will lose its sparkle by New Year’s Day.
Before you stress out, I’ve got a great gift idea, one that I promise your children will love. It’s you.
Karen Wingate was legally blind from infancy. As a child, she endured eight surgeries that only marginally improved her vision – from blind to blurry. As an adult, she prayed earnestly for God to perform a miracle. Nothing happened.
At age 55, Karen consulted with her retina specialist and discovered that her eyesight had further deteriorated to the point that surgery was needed. She was greatly discouraged until, during the procedure, the doctor said, “Mrs. Wingate, I believe I can guarantee your vision will be better than it’s ever been before.” Finally, she got her miracle.
Years ago, during my sophomore year at Cal State San Bernardino, I found myself in a difficult situation at Christmas break. I had nowhere to go. Both of my parents had died, and I wasn’t able to stay with my siblings or friends. I had to request special permission to spend the holiday on the deserted campus. For two weeks, my friends enjoyed roaring fireplaces and dinner tables full of turkey, ham, and all the trimmings.
Author Rhonda Stoppe felt prepared to be a great mom when her daughter was born. But, a few years later when she had a son, her confidence dissipated. Raising a girl felt easy. Raising a boy felt intimidating.
Many moms can relate. They understand how their daughters think, feel, and see the world. Not so their sons. My wife, Jean, did an amazing job of adapting to our two boys and creating meaningful connections with both, but she worked hard at it.
Most couples are madly in love on their wedding day. They’re infatuated, passionate, and convinced they’ll always feel this way.
Over time, however, the sizzle begins to fizzle. There’s the first big argument, then little annoyances creep into the relationship, and the couple soon gets caught up in the daily grind of life. Before long, one spouse or the other begins to wonder, “Is this all there is to our marriage? Where did our love go?”
On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “How to Stay Crazy in Love with Your Spouse,” my colleagues Greg and Erin Smalley are with us to inspire couples to build a lifelong, loving relationship utilizing “love secrets”:
True love commits
True love seeks God
True love fights for peace
True love honors
True love needs time to grow
True love embraces
True love endures
We’re discussing what true love looks like and how married couples can express that love to each other in meaningful and godly ways throughout their lifetime.
Are you ready to take on the ultimate holiday movie challenge? It’s easy and, best of all, it will bring you together as a family. Here it is. Between now and Christmas, sit down together as a family and watch as many Christmas movies as you can.
I don’t usually recommend families spend more time in front of a screen, but I’ll happily make an exception in this case. The Christmas season is a wonderful time of year for families to reconnect.
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.
