Daly Focus Blog
I know my wife loves me.
She tells me so every day, but she also brings me coffee.
I usually start each day with some quiet time for devotions and to look over work for the day ahead. Many days Jean will bring me a nice hot cup of joe. It’s her way of saying, “I love you.”
I should say, it’s my way of hearing, “I love you.”
In the same way our personality has us hardwired to be introverted or extroverted, we all feel love in specific ways.
“I think abortion is immoral. But I’m glad it’s legal.”
Ever heard someone say that? Not only do I disagree with the sentiment, it’s inherently illogical. Most people who say it don’t realize that.
Then again, a lot of us in the pro-life camp may not realize it, either. We often don’t know how to respond to arguments that portray abortion as a practical and rational choice for society.
My answer to that kind of reasoning is to point to two fundamental questions that have driven the debate about abortion, euthanasia, and other crucial pro-life issues for decades:
1.
Yesterday I shared with you how schools, community groups and churches can work together to help parents increase their children’s likelihood of success in life through the evidence-based, bilingual program Raising Highly Capable Kids.
Developed to build stronger families by empowering parents, Raising Highly Capable Kids helps parents understand what foundational building blocks their children need to exhibit the positive behaviors – and avoid the negative behaviors – that will ultimately help them do well in life.
Parenting isn’t easy. Moms and dads – the people who wield the most influence over a child’s life – can sometimes feel like they’re flying blind.
And if that’s true for parents who are doing their job in the best of circumstances, can you imagine the challenges families living in at-risk communities face? Not only do they have to deal with the typical homework struggles and behavioral issues, these parents must do it while navigating poverty, neighborhood gang activity and other hardships.
You have to be a creative parent when your child is strong-willed. A headstrong child rarely backs down from even the smallest challenge when it’s a question of who’s in control.
One of our boys is strong-willed, and Jean and I have joked about how we’re raising a lawyer-in-training. He can find a loophole in anything.
Jean once held a women’s tea and set out chocolates in the living room. She later discovered half the bowl was gone.
I’m writing this from my “home base” in Colorado Springs, Colo., but a couple of weeks ago I was in Israel, walking where Jesus walked, and learning from acclaimed teacher and Focus friend Ray Vander Laan.
It was an incredible experience I’ll always remember. Going to the Promised Land is adventure enough, but listening to Ray make biblical stories come alive took the trip to another level. Ray is an amazing communicator who has a unique grasp of Scripture.
Several months ago, the Daly household grew by two when we invited foster kids into our home. I’m happy we’re getting a chance to have an impact on these young people.
Well … I am now, at least.
The credit for our involvement belongs to Jean. It was easy for me to rationalize why we couldn’t do it. “We’re too busy. We’ve got two teenagers and have so much going on. How could we possibly do this?”
Jean just looked at me and said, “How can we not do it?”
That’s the dilemma we often face, isn’t it?
There’s a familiar voice helping raise awareness of students’ First Amendment rights in schools: Michael Tait of the award-winning Christian band the Newsboys.
He’s been voicing video and radio promotions raising awareness of “Bring Your Bible to School Day,” the Focus-sponsored, student-led event taking place next Thursday, Oct. 6. (You might have heard him talk about the issue if you’re a listener of K-LOVE, WAY-FM, or Christian channels on Internet radio and satellite radio. He’s even appeared on our recent broadcast highlighting the event!) Here’s one of his video spots:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48c-8kSTskA
Not only that, but the Newsboys are encouraging students to share God’s hope by partnering with us on an exciting giveaway that gives fans a chance to win a free trip for four to hear the Newsboys LIVE in concert in Dallas, Texas!
The empty nest years can sneak up on a marriage.
I shared my thoughts about this in a post a few weeks ago:
“Well-meaning moms and dads spend so many years completely devoted to the task of raising their children that they often forget to be husband and wife. It’s a situation that may be manageable while the kids are still at home and there’s enough work to ‘float’ the relationship along – but it can become unbearable after the kids move out.
Parents, every day you’re passing on a legacy to your children.
What are you leaving them?
Jean and I have two teenage boys at home, and we think a lot about how we can instill them with the biblical values we know will carry them through their lives.
There are countless ways moms and dads can pass their faith on to their children, a lot of them based on the family’s schedule and each member’s unique personality.
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.
