Family by God&#039;s Design

Parents, Manage Your Emotions

If you’re a parent, you know that raising children arouses a lot of emotions. Those emotions range from joy to sorrow to anger to guilt and more. They occur when we witness our children doing wonderful things and when our children snap back in anger at a limit we set. We experience emotions when we...

Family Shepherds

emotional health emotional management parent child relationship parenting

June 8, 2026

Adjusting to a Changing World

Scientists believe that human beings were designed for a different type of world than the one in which we live. They believe our bodies function most effectively when we live in a world of movement, nature, and short bursts of energy. Unfortunately, we now live in a world that encourages us to sit still—sit still...

Celebration Family Shepherds

connection emotional health exercise mental health nature outdoors stress management

June 1, 2026

The Impact of Stress on Your Child’s Brain-Gut Communication…& So What?!?

Our bodies, when functioning well, are amazing models of communication and collaboration. Not surprisingly, stress impacts that communication. Researchers at NYU College of Dentistry’s Pain Research Center conducted one animal study and two human studies exploring the impact of stress on children’s digestive systems. One of the human studies involved over 40,000 children and the...

Celebration Family Shepherds Grace Honor

emotional health health parenting

May 18, 2026

3 Ingredients of a Well-Fed Brain…and How to Get Them

We are designed for relationships. In fact, John Bowlby, who is credited with founding attachment theory, went so far as to say loving, secure relationships with our primary caregiver are as essential to life as water and food. And research suggests that “Loneliness Is More Dangerous Than Smoking 15 Cigarettes A Day.” At least one...

Celebration Honor

emotional health family intimacy family relationships health marriage parent child relationship

April 27, 2026

Growing Old with Family & Music

Music is a wonderful gift. Listening to music, playing music, or making music together…it all enhances our emotional, cognitive, & relational health. In fact, a recent longitudinal study of over 10,800 participants suggests that music actually decreases the risk of dementia. Specifically, those over 70-years-old who “always listen” to music showed a 39% decrease in...

Celebration

cognitive health emotional health family intimacy family relationships music

February 21, 2026

Parenting Practices that Influence Teen Anxiety

Many teens experience at least some level of anxiety, from shyness to full blown anxiety. However, the way in which mothers and fathers interact with their children can influence their teens’ level of anxiety. Their interaction may not prevent anxiety, but it can influence it, for better or worse, according to a study published in...

Family Shepherds

acceptance affection anxiety boundaries connection emotional health parenting

February 16, 2026

The Family Saboteur

A saboteur is attempting to kidnap the thought life of our children and shape the way they think about ourselves and others. This saboteur has become so pervasive that we often don’t even recognize it. It has infiltrated the media and our thinking with a message that damages our children and their ability to manage...

Family Shepherds Honor

cognitive health emotional health mental health self-image self-talk

January 12, 2026

Weeding Resentments

Resentments arise so easily in life. We may fall prey to resentment because we believe our parents favor our siblings, a neighbor’s barking dog annoys us all night, or our partner contributes little to maintaining our home. Whatever the cause, these everyday resentments pile up and affect our well-being, our happiness, and our joy. If...

Celebration Grace

emotional health family intimacy family relationship gratitude

December 27, 2025

Resolve: Enjoy a Year of Christmas

I wish we would celebrate Christmas all year round. I mean…I’m not big on the hustle and bustle, the rush and hurry. I can do without the Christmas tree needles spreading through the living room and the whole house. But the Christmas spirit…I love the Christmas spirit, the heart of Christmas. I’d like to keep...