Beauty, Beast, & Your Family
“There is the great lesson of ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ that a thing must be loved before it is lovable.” G.K. Chesterton (http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/show/201564) Chesterton makes a great point...
View ArticleShe Said What?!
My family accuses me of being “literal.” I don’t necessarily agree with that, but I do ask a lot of questions. I really want to understand what they mean. Sometimes this has “literally” calmed my...
View Article5 Ways to Check the Teen Attitude at the Door
If you have a pre-teen or teen, you have probably encountered “the attitude.” I can imagine all those who have a teen nodding their head in agreement as you recall the condescending stare, rolling...
View ArticleBridge the Communication Gap with Your Teen (& Just About Anyone Else)
Sometimes teens are hard to talk to. Let’s be real…sometimes spouses, children, and even parents are hard to talk to. If I’m honest, I have to admit that sometimes I am hard to talk to. I have...
View ArticleTurn Your Argument Into the Best Part of the Day…Make It Bearable Anyway
When you find yourself in an argument or disagreement (notice how I say “find myself” in an argument; I never start one…well, maybe once in a while…alright, alright, so even when I start an argument)...
View Article6 Tips for Practical Acceptance
We all long for acceptance. We want to be an integral part of a group, especially our family. Feeling accepted creates a sense of safety and security. Knowing others accept us gives us a sense of...
View ArticleA Baker’s Dozen to Show Grace in Troubled Relationships
John Gottman believes “91% of the time the ground is ripe for miscommunications” in a marriage. I don’t know about the percentage, but I know conflict and misunderstandings arise in every family. It is...
View ArticleA Back Door to Your Child’s Heart
Have you ever watched your children do something and thought, “What in the world are they thinking?” I have—like the time my daughter wrote herself a note to get out of gym class…in first grade…with a...
View ArticleThe Sacred Moment In Every Conversation
Our families, our marriage, and our children are flooded with information today. TV’s, computers, smart phones, Ipads, social media, 24-hour news…they all throw information our direction faster...
View ArticleWhen a Shirt is More Than a Shirt
It was old, no doubt. Some looked at it and saw holes and frayed sleeves, my wife included. She saw a rag, something to use while cleaning or, better yet, something to simply throw away. But I saw so...
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