How to Teach Your Kids to Be Good Conversationalists
A friend of mine was approached at church one morning by another adult with an unusual compliment: “I was just visiting with your 14-year-old and was so impressed with how she carried herself in the conversation!” Any parent is always delighted to get such a compliment. But this got him thinking, What are we doing that helped her, and can we help our other kids to be good conversationalists?
How God Uses Suffering
Recently, I posted about my experience with major back pain, brought on by herniated discs, and the 5 Marks of Suffering that I learned about from an excellent book by Tim Keller, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering. Keller’s overview of how God uses suffering in our lives was inspiring. As someone called to help people love their families well, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share his insights with you.
5 Marks of Suffering
Last summer, I herniated two discs in my back. The pain dropped me to my knees. I thought I’d be up and running again soon, but an MRI revealed otherwise. For months, I battled constant pain, only sleeping a few hours a night, usually on the floor. It’s been a lonely road. Many days were filled with doctor appointments, pain management, and rehabilitation. But God has used it for good. He has taught me so much about myself, about others and most importantly, about Him.
Can You Read Your Spouse?
When we interact with our spouses, there is more being communicated than just words. [Tweet this] There are messages between the words that require more attentiveness. Most of these messages come in the form of body language. Little facial expressions, hand motions, and posture all reveal an array of emotions.
Do You and Your Spouse Have Healthy Hearts?
Doctors call heart disease “the silent killer” accounting for one in four deaths in the United States every year. That’s why February has been designated Heart Health Month, to encourage everyone to take better care of this essential part of themselves.
A Honey-Don’t List for Wives
I recently offered not a honey do list but a Honey-Don’t List for Husbands—seven things husbands must avoid if they want their relationship to thrive. Now it’s your turn, ladies: a Honey-Don’t List for Wives.
A Honey-Don’t List for Husbands
Most guys are familiar with the honey-do list: those little (and sometimes not-so-little) projects that your wife wants you to tackle. Even if you’re not particularly handy, taking one of them on communicates your love to her. But she has another, equally important, list she may never have shared with you: the honey-don’t list.
What To Do When Things Don’t Turn Out the Way You Thought
I had a hard phone call with a friend recently. He was reviewing his life and shared with me how “things haven’t turned out like I thought they would.” In my experience, this sort of comment usually means that the person believes their life should be better than it is, not just different.
S.M.A.R.T Goals for your Marriage
In the business world, defining objectives and setting goals is critical to strategic planning. Basically, it boils down to this: You’ve got to be absolutely crystal clear on what you want to do before you can make a plan to figure out how to do it. The same holds true in marriage. Couples who focus their actions on clearly defined goals do better than couples who just let life happen to them. Clear goals are smart, and S.M.A.R.T. too!
