Family by God&#039;s Design

Not Enough Time in the Day?

We have 24 hours every day. That’s 1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds…and it flies by. Time is at a premium, especially within our families. We “never” have enough time. Some would go so far as to say we live in a “time famine.” There just isn’t enough of it, not enough time in the day....

Family Shepherds Grace

kindness sharing time values

November 21, 2022

Thanksgiving Dinner? What’s the Big Deal?

Norman Rockwell captured the iconic moment of Thanksgiving Dinner in The Thanksgiving Picture. But really, what’s the big deal about a family dinner? Who cares about family dinners anyway? Family dinner is about so much more than simply sitting at a common table to eat food. We learn important lessons at the family dinner. It...

Celebration

belonging priorities sharing Thanksgiving values

May 25, 2020

Everything I Needed to Know I Learned At Dinner

I enjoyed daily family dinners as a child. Well, most of the time I enjoyed family dinners. Sometimes tensions and disagreements cast a shadow over the meal. But I still remember family dinners with great fondness. My wife and I did our best to keep the tradition of family dinners alive in our own family....

Celebration Grace Honor

family meals gratitude politeness respect sharing

December 23, 2019

The Best Christmas: Honor, Grace, & Celebration

Christmas has suddenly appeared on the horizon. I don’t know about you, but it seems like the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas gets shorter every year. The hustle and bustle of crowds and traffic seems more pronounced. Because the spirit of Christmas so easily eludes me, I need to take the time to reflect on...

Celebration Grace Honor

christmas connection family relationships sharing submit

May 11, 2019

“Being There” for Family… When?

What does it mean to “be there” for your spouse and children? We often consider “being there” as giving comfort during tough times or caring for others in difficult situations. We think of “being there” as supporting others when they need help. Those are good times to “be there” for our spouse and children; but...

Celebration Honor

availability happiness relationships sharing

December 21, 2015

Brain Waves, Toddlers, & Moral Development

All parents want to raise children with a strong sense of right and wrong. However, most parents don’t realize how early—surprisingly early—this moral behavior and thought begins. Jean Decety from the University of Chicago (and his associate, Jason Cowell) demonstrated that parents influence their children’s moral development as early as one year old! He showed...

Family Shepherds

character kindness moral development perspective taking sharing

October 12, 2013

The #1 Ingredient for Building Friendships With Your Children

I remember coming home from the park with my preschool daughters. One would say, “I made a friend today.” Her face glowing and her voice bubbling with excitement. “Really,” I would ask. “What’s her name?” “I don’t know.” “Where does she live?” “I don’t know.” (Both times the “I don’t know” reply was said in...

Family Shepherds Honor

availability children connection intimacy parent child relationship parenting presence sharing time

October 20, 2012

Increase Family Happiness in 5 Minutes a Day!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I want to share a family activity that can help you prepare for this special day. This activity will also bring increased happiness, greater life satisfaction and more positive emotions into your home. Everyone who participates will reap the benefits. Best of all, it is simple. It takes...