Daly Focus Blog
Every December, you pledge to slow down at Christmas. And every December, the season rushes by in a blur.
You’re not alone. It’s tough to hit the brakes during the holidays. There are parties, decorations and a mountain of gifts to wrap. Is it any wonder we feel stressed out instead of relaxed and closer to God and our families?
I’ve learned a few things over the years that help me make the holidays as fun, meaningful and stress free as possible.
In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, we learn about Aslan, a great lion who rules Narnia. Susan, a little girl who stumbles into the enchanted world through a magic wardrobe, asks Mr. Beaver if Aslan is safe.
“Safe?” Mr. Beaver replies. “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King.”
God, whom Aslan symbolizes, isn’t safe, either. We never know when or how God will show up in our lives.
Christmas is all about Jesus. We celebrate the historic reality that the Creator of the universe cloaked Himself in flesh and blood and submitted Himself to the care of human parents as a vulnerable, dependent child – the ultimate expression of humility.
“Unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
On Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, British evangelist Canon J.John has a challenge for you this Christmas: as you celebrate the birth of Jesus, allow your heart to consider the rest of His life as well.
Thanksgiving is one of our nation’s most cherished traditions. Before America was even founded, the Pilgrims expressed gratitude to God for His many blessings – even when life was hard.
And life was hard. The Pilgrims’ voyage across the Atlantic Ocean took 65 days in cold, miserable conditions. Many of them became ill, and one person died before the Mayflower reached Plymouth in November of 1620. Less than half of the Pilgrims survived that first winter.
When two people share the same vision, they can change the world.
Take Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak for example. Their vision for home computers revolutionized the tech industry and made Apple one of the most valuable companies in the world.
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield did the same thing with ice cream. They turned Ben and Jerry’s into one of the most popular ice cream brands in the industry.
In the world of music, think of Lennon and McCartney, Mick and Keith, or Simon and Garfunkel.
Jean and I have two boys, Trent and Troy. They’re in their 20s and on a good track through life. They’re active, so we don’t see them as often as we would like, but we stay in touch almost daily and have a good time when we’re together.
Unfortunately, that experience is not true of every parent with adult children. They disagree about lifestyle choices, job choices, dating choices, or faith choices. Even loving families experience tension when young adults and their parents don’t see eye to eye.
I didn’t have good role models growing up. My dad left our family when I was five and died an alcoholic a few years later. Hank, my stepdad, walked out on my siblings and me the day of my mother’s funeral. My foster dad, Mr. Reil, brought even more chaos into my life.
By the time I became a teenager, I realized I had two paths to choose from. One led to bitterness and resentment, which would make me just like the broken father figures in my life.
My wife, Jean, and I have been married for 38 years. For most of that time I’ve had the privilege of working at, and leading, Focus on the Family. Since our ministry’s inception, we have prioritized upholding God’s design for marriage.
Given that, you’d think I’d have this marriage thing down by now. But Jean will be the first to tell you (after I humbly admit it myself) that I’m still a husband in progress, hopefully becoming all that God desires of me.
Dementia is the general term for deterioration in memory and thinking, behavioral processing and the ability to perform everyday tasks for yourself. A dementia diagnosis is one of the most difficult issues a family can face. The statistics are staggering:
It’s estimated that one in three adults – 33% – will die with some form of dementia.
More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease.
More than one in nine people aged 65 and older has some form of Alzheimer’s dementia.
Do you need help?
It’s okay to admit it, if you do. Sooner or later, all of us need help. Even Moses.
Exodus chapter 17 tells about Moses receiving help while the Israelites are engaged in battle against an enemy. In the story, Moses stands on a hill and raises his staff above his head. As long as his arms remain in the air, the Israelites prevail. But when he lowers them, they begin to lose.
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.
