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Vision Exam

The other day, my son tried on my reading glasses.  “Wow!” he said, “I can see really good up close, but far away—it’s blurry.”  That made me think … all children, whether they need glasses or not, are “near-sighted.”  Like my son, they only see what’s up close… what’s happening today at school or tonight after dinner.  Stuff in the distance —college, marriage, career—that’s more fuzzy and out of focus.  Parents...
Apr 04, 2025 / General

How to Extinguish an Old Flame

Well, for a flame to exist, you have to have fuel.  You know those old pictures you have tucked away… the love letters you’ve saved… the texts you exchange… the seemingly harmless flirtations on Facebook.  These are the fuel that—given a spark—might just become a raging inferno.  So, the first step to extinguish an old flame is to get rid of the fuel source.  Throw out the reminders, get rid of the pictures of...
Apr 03, 2025 / Saving Your Marriage

Read the Lyrics

Recently, I asked my son for his iPod so I could check out the songs he was listening to.  I Googled the lyrics for the songs, and most were just fine.  But I did find a couple that weren’t.  I sat down with him and showed him the objectionable lyrics.  While reading through the words, I think we were both a bit surprised at the coarse language, degradation of women and sexual content in the lyrics.  After he...
Apr 02, 2025 / General

Fight for Your Marriage, Not Your Pride

In his book, Uncommon Marriage, Tony Dungy shares why couples often fight harder for their own pride than for the good of their marriage.  He says “it goes against our human nature” to apologize when we think we’re right and our spouse is wrong.  It may not be easy to take the high road, but here are 3 steps to fight for your marriage rather than your pride.  First, identify what the conflict is really about. ...
Feb 25, 2025 / Saving Your Marriage

Tony Dungy’s Super Bowl Family Time Tips

Millions of people will be glued to the television this Super Bowl Sunday. If you plan on watching the game, why not make it a family activity? Start with a game plan for the day. It might include firing up the grill, or letting each child choose a favorite snack food.  You can also play Super Bowl trivia or predict the score at the end of each quarter. Give fun prizes to the winners. If it’s not too cold, Dad can...
Jan 30, 2025 / Family Time & Vacations

Decoding Your Wife's Words

Twenty-five years of marriage to my wife, Susan, has taught me that women often communicate by saying one thing, but meaning another. So for all the men out there who thought it was impossible to understand women, here is a key for decoding your wife’s words. First, when she says “I’m fine” she really means “I’m not fine, but I’m not ready to talk about it.” Second, when she says, “Didn’t you go out with your...
Dec 13, 2024 / Husbands

4 Helpful Alternatives to “If There’s Anything We Can Do to Help…”

You may have said, “If there’s anything we can do to help, please let us know.”  But, how often will someone who needs help actually “let you know” they need it?  It’s EASY to offer help.  But it’s BETTER to actually help.  Here are some ways you can do just that:  First, tell them “We have some groceries (or home-cooked food) we’d like to bring over…when would be a good time?”  Making extra of your next meal or...
Aug 29, 2024 / Coping & Loss

FAMILY FIRST PROGRAMS

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The Family Minute is a daily radio feature that offers everyday advice on marriage, parenting, and family relationships.

Mark Merrill

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