Getting to Know Me Questions for Families and Organizations
How well do you really know the people you see every day—the people sitting beside you, the people you laugh with, and the people you live with? Once, my friend Danny and I were talking when he suddenly stopped me and asked, “Mark, how are you wired?” I replied, “Well, I have to write down just […]
How Do You Know That You’re Loving Your Children Well?
There is one question that tugs on the heart of every child. There is one question that impacts their identity. And that question is this: Do you love me? As their father, you need to be the one answering that question with a resounding “Yes! I do love you.” So how do you know that […]
4 Ways to Man-age Your Home When Dealing with Illness
A good father and husband does many things. He protects. He leads. He provides. He encourages. He strengthens. He loves. So what happens when his spouse gets sick?
Sickness and disease are unavoidable in this broken world. But when it comes to your own spouse falling ill, your world can be knocked completely upside down. You often feel overwhelmed by the ceaseless waves of bad news crashing over the deck of your family’s life. But that’s when your wife and your kids need you to love and lead the most.
My wife, Susan, has had a dozen surgeries. Most of those surgeries have been during our married life and have been related to her heart and pacemaker. During those pre-op and post-op periods, I’ve had to step up as a husband and dad and do some things that may normally be a bit out of my comfort zone. And while I share my thoughts below on what you can do for your family during those tough times, please know that I did not do all of them well all of the time. I was sometimes impatient, unkind, and short-tempered as I walked this bumpy road.
Here are a few management roles you can take on to help your wife and kids get through this difficult season of life.
6 Ways to Keep Your Kids Honest
Our world, in big ways and small, gives a wink and a nod to dishonesty. This makes it difficult to bring up children who are fully committed to truthfulness. So how do we teach our children to tell the truth even when it’s hard? There are lots of ways, and they all start early. […]
Is It Good for You to Cry?
A few weeks ago, my son left for college. As I hugged him goodbye, the dam broke and tears flowed from my eyes…I sobbed uncontrollably. Yes, I cry every now and then. And, even though researchers have found that, on average, women cry 64 times a year and men only 17 times, it’s good […]
7 Mistakes You Should Let Your Kids Make
An enormous slide and a determined toddler. Not the sort of combination every parent is hoping for on their first trip to the park. You watch your child teeter up the ladder, push through the chaos of older kids, and plop down at the top of the slide. You wait with a nervous smile and […]
Corrie ten Boom: The Ultimate Forgiveness Story
The story of Corrie ten Boom has been told countless times through the years. Yet, even today, it remains one of the most beloved stories of forgiveness this world has ever known. During World War II, she and her family saved Jews from being sent off to concentration camps by hiding them in a room […]
How to Determine Whether to Insulate or Isolate Your Children
Raising kids is complicated. There are so many moments when we wonder if we’re doing things right. Should I let my teenager go to that friend’s house, even though I know his parents may not be home? Or would it be better to just keep my son at home tonight? Should I insulate or […]
The Same Old Marriage Fights and How to Change
Susan and I have been married 24 years. After so many years, you’d think we would have smooth sailing in our relationship all the time, right? Well, not really. We are two imperfect people who do not live a perfect life. We still argue. And, more often than not, it’s usually about the same […]
