When you and your spouse don’t see eye to eye, do you understand why? According to Dr. Kevin Leman, a common reason most couples overlook is birth order. That little boy, that little girl that you once were, you still are. Your birth order influences how you see relationships and, therefore, your marriage. Birth order is the dynamic relationship that exists between a parent and a child and between a child and his or her siblings. The post How Birth Order Shapes Your Marriage appeared first on Jim Daly ..read more

Christmas is all about Jesus. We celebrate the historic reality that the Creator of the universe cloaked Himself in flesh and blood and submitted Himself to the care of human parents as a vulnerable, dependent child – the ultimate expression of humility. “Unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given” (Isaiah 9:6-7). On Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, British evangelist Canon J.John has a challenge for you this Christmas: as you celebrate the birth of Jesus, allow your heart to consider the rest of His life as well. The post Unwrapping the Real Christmas appeared first on Jim Daly ..read more

Thanksgiving is one of our nation’s most cherished traditions. Before America was even founded, the Pilgrims expressed gratitude to God for His many blessings – even when life was hard. And life was hard. The Pilgrims’ voyage across the Atlantic Ocean took 65 days in cold, miserable conditions. Many of them became ill, and one person died before the Mayflower reached Plymouth in November of 1620. Less than half of the Pilgrims survived that first winter. The post Thanksgiving is What You Do appeared first on Jim Daly ..read more

When two people share the same vision, they can change the world. Take Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak for example. Their vision for home computers revolutionized the tech industry and made Apple one of the most valuable companies in the world. Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield did the same thing with ice cream. They turned Ben and Jerry’s into one of the most popular ice cream brands in the industry. In the world of music, think of Lennon and McCartney, Mick and Keith, or Simon and Garfunkel. The post Shared Vision for Marriage appeared first on Jim Daly ..read more

Is your marriage in a rhythm? Or in a rut? Three ruts are common to most relationships: Seasonal ruts are positive marital rhythms that served you in a past season of marriage but are no longer helpful, such as conversation habits or work schedules. Inherited ruts are negative rhythms you inherited and brought with you into your marriage. This includes conflict resolution or relationship expectations. Cultural ruts are societal norms that don’t fit your relationship. To break out of those ruts and find something deeper, more rewarding, and more meaningful in your relationship as a married coup ..read more

Jean and I have two boys, Trent and Troy. They’re in their 20s and on a good track through life. They’re active, so we don’t see them as often as we would like, but we stay in touch almost daily and have a good time when we’re together. Unfortunately, that experience is not true of every parent with adult children. They disagree about lifestyle choices, job choices, dating choices, or faith choices. Even loving families experience tension when young adults and their parents don’t see eye to eye. The post How to Positively Influence Your Adult Child appeared first on Jim Daly ..read more

I didn’t have good role models growing up. My dad left our family when I was five and died an alcoholic a few years later. Hank, my stepdad, walked out on my siblings and me the day of my mother’s funeral. My foster dad, Mr. Reil, brought even more chaos into my life. By the time I became a teenager, I realized I had two paths to choose from. One led to bitterness and resentment, which would make me just like the broken father figures in my life. The post Forge a New Path appeared first on Jim Daly ..read more

My wife, Jean, and I have been married for 38 years. For most of that time I’ve had the privilege of working at, and leading, Focus on the Family. Since our ministry’s inception, we have prioritized upholding God’s design for marriage. Given that, you’d think I’d have this marriage thing down by now. But Jean will be the first to tell you (after I humbly admit it myself) that I’m still a husband in progress, hopefully becoming all that God desires of me. The post Five Ways to Grow Closer as a Couple appeared first on Jim Daly ..read more

Dementia is the general term for deterioration in memory and thinking, behavioral processing and the ability to perform everyday tasks for yourself. A dementia diagnosis is one of the most difficult issues a family can face. The statistics are staggering: It’s estimated that one in three adults – 33% – will die with some form of dementia. More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. More than one in nine people aged 65 and older has some form of Alzheimer’s dementia. The post Finding God’s Beauty in Alzheimer’s and Dementia appeared first on Jim Daly ..read more

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was one of the largest disasters in American history. Popular accounts from the time report that Catherine O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern in a barn. The small flame erupted into an inferno that destroyed miles of homes and burned Chicago’s business district to the ground. So much destruction from a single spark. That’s why the book of Proverbs urge us to be careful with our words. “Death and Life are in the power of the tongue” it says (18:21). The post Helping or Hurting? Understanding the Power of Your Words appeared first on Jim Daly ..read more