But we love each other!
Valentine’s Day. It’s a time for love. Mom and Dad, I hope you’re making time for yourselves today. But, your teen may be in a relationship. You may not be thrilled about that, either. I know you’ve heard it, “But, [...]
“She’s just like you!” Yeah—isn’t that cool?
Many people say my youngest daughter and I are a lot alike. I’m not sure why, but we’re the kind of people who tell it like it is. You don’t typically have to try to figure out what we’re thinking. [...]
At least I don’t need a massage.
That’s what I said as I stood up from my seat on an airplane recently. The three-or-so-year-old little boy sitting behind me decided to be an annoying little troublemaker on my flight from Grand Rapids to Chicago. I wish I [...]
My adult kids are just NOT living for the Lord.
This is tough. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than watching your adult kids fail spiritually. I know first-hand. You feel like a failure, even though you KNOW it’s not your fault. Many of us believe our kids are saved, but just [...]
We’re just so different. I don’t know what to do.
You love your family. But they’re not followers of Christ—your values are just so different. You want your kids to know their grandparents, but you don’t like the fact that they smoke, cuss, or drink, even though not as much [...]
Bitter at God?
Bitterness. Yes, our kids can be bitter. Why? Maybe divorce has hit our homes, or death, or maybe they’re dealing with a less-than-perfect body that kids tease and torment. A lot of times, it’s middle school when all this anger [...]
Love them, spoil them, and send them home.
Are you a grandparent? I am. The great thing about being a grandparent is you can do all the fun things you ever wanted to do as a parent—give them candy, eat dessert first, and let them stay up late. [...]
Mom and Dad, this is how God made me
Yesterday, I gave you some suggestions about how to respond to your son or daughter who tells you they’re gay. Love first. Then, ask them not to define themselves that way if they’re just having thoughts. And talk to them [...]
Mom and Dad, I’m gay.
There are a number of parents, Christians and not, who have been shocked by these words. Someone asks, “As a Christian, what should I say?” The first thing is to make SURE they know you love them. 1 John 4:8 [...]
Negative kids. Contagious?
Do you enjoy being around negative people? I don’t know about you, but it’s depressing for me. There’s nothing good about people who constantly point out the bad in everything. The problem is negativity is contagious. It’s a learned behavior, [...]