Maybe it’s watching the parade or football game on TV. Maybe it’s playing football or games in the backyard. That special dish you serve every year can be a great tradition as well.  Each family member sharing what they’re thankful for as you gather around the dinner table can be a very meaningful tradition.  Your tradition might even include inviting a family that’s less fortunate.  Think about it. What tradition...

It’s been said that “The eyes are useless when the mind is blind.” If that is true, I think I’ve approached a lot of Thanksgivings with a dim view of my many real blessings. I don’t always have the awe and wonder that I should. I should be in awe of the simple amazing blessings in my life. I should be really thankful for the simple things we take for granted like running water, climate-controlled homes, a...

As our little girls grow into young ladies, one of our biggest concerns becomes the boys in their lives. As parents, we know the danger of a fragile heart in the hands of an immature boy. But unless we understand the issues, our girls will probably remain blind to the emotional and physical consequences that come with being physically intimate. So here are some key factors to be aware of that may increase your...

Many studies have shown that parents do have a big impact on what their kids decide to do for a living. Here are three ways to influence your child’s career choice. First, be a student of your child. Watch your kids carefully and take mental notes on their natural skills, interests, and areas of giftedness. Second, validate your child’s gifts. When you see those interests and gifts emerging, it’s important to...

As our boys start growing into men, one difficult thing they’ll face is learning to deal with their anger. So the next time your son becomes angry, your first step should be to help him identify his emotions. This means exploring together the hidden factors that have contributed to his anger — not just the surface reasons. The second step towards handling anger is teaching your son that he doesn’t have to be ruled...

When we talk about what a good marriage takes, we like to focus on the basics. We talk about loving our spouse, caring for our spouse, and spending time with our spouse. And while those things are certainly important, there’s a huge part of marriage that we don’t talk about as much…and that’s physical intimacy. When you’re married, you’re called to love your spouse in every way…emotionally, spiritually, and...

She interrupted me mid-sentence…again. He left his clothes in a heap on the bedroom floor…again. Those annoying habits can be frustrating, especially when we’ve asked our spouse to stop doing them so many times. So what should you do? First, ask yourself, “Why does that habit really bother me?”  A habit might frustrate us if we have a certain way of doing things and our spouse does things very differently. Second,...