Family by God&#039;s Design

An Invitation

Families benefit from phrases that begin with “Let us…” or “Let’s….” “Let us” offers an invitation to engage with one another, to do something together. It is an invitation to a deeper relationship. Sometimes the invitation accompanies fun. Sometimes the invitation comes with work. Even if the invitation suggests a work activity, it implies that...

Celebration Grace Honor

family relationship intimacy parent child relationship relationship

December 2, 2024

Relationships, Family, & Physical Health

A lot of people make a New Year’s resolution to live healthier. They make it a goal to eat better, lose weight, exercise more, or rest better. These are all positive goals that can increase physical health. However, I would like to suggest pursuing growth in an additional area that will influence physical health as...

Celebration Honor

family relationship health marriage parent child relationship relationship

October 12, 2024

Don’t Take Your Marriage for Granted

It is easy to start taking our spouse and marriage for granted. We live them every day, day in and day out. We naturally develop routines and patterns to help us navigate the busy-ness of life and, before long, we begin to feel like we’re in a rut—same routine, same conversations, same schedule. But it...

Celebration Honor

fun intimacy marriage relationship

July 1, 2024

Jealousy in Love

I work with several young women who struggle to find healthy romantic relationships. One of the challenges I’ve observed (and these young women have pointed out to me time and again) is that the young men they date often get jealous of their success. The young men become insecure and attempt to control them when...

Grace Honor

jealousy marriage premarriage relationship

May 13, 2024

To Find Love, Find Purpose

“Looking for love in all the wrong places” seems an all-too-common practice today. I meet with many single people (teens, young adults, divorced adults, widow/widowers) who struggle to meet someone with whom they can develop a long-term, loving relationship. They often lack one key ingredient for a successful search: a sense of purpose. At least...

Celebration

purpose relationship romantic self-image volunteering

May 6, 2024

Nurture Your Child’s “Why”

An old proverb tells us that “curiosity killed the cat.” Fortunately, our children are not cats because they ca ask “why” incessantly. But in actuality, curiosity helps children learn and grow, even survive. It contributes to more positive emotions and less anxiety. It leads to higher achievement as well as stronger, healthier relationships (see Six...

Family Shepherds Honor

cognitive health curiosity parenting relationship

March 25, 2024

The “Big Little Leap” & All the Leaps That Follow

Ah…the experience of joy on the first day of kindergarten. I never really understood the parental struggle mixed with pride and joy when “letting go” of children until I dropped mine off for their first days of school. It was the first of many leaps that culminated in dropping them off at college or watching...

Family Shepherds

healthy development leaving home parent child relationship relationship

February 5, 2024

To Keep Your Marriage Stronger, Longer

Do you want to have a life-long, happy marriage? I do….and I have good news. According to research, this one daily behavior will contribute to a long, happy marriage. The findings came from analyzing data from 732 couples between the ages of 64- and 74-years-old. What is the behavior that contributes to a joyous marriage...