by Tracy Crump My husband, Stan, was just 7 months old when his dad died, and his mother never remarried. I have often wondered, How did Stan learn to be such a good father to our two sons? While a mother’s love is invaluable, boys need men to teach them to be…
It’s not easy, as a single parent, to learn to trust again. If you feel you have been rejected by your partner, you can feel pain almost beyond description. The pain of that broken relationship might leave you thinking, ‘never again.’ It simply hurts too much. It rocks your self-worth,…
As we entered the one-room country church, my dad reached to steady my mum. The explosion of colour, the thick scent of lilies and the face of my grandfather in a bronze casket had knocked her off balance. At 9 years of age, I was too young to fully understand…
If you’ve learned marital lessons, you can help couples prepare for matrimony. by Susan Graham Mathis As I printed out the premarital assessment my daughter and her fiancé had taken, my heart pounded. My husband, Dale, and I had used the PREPARE assessment numerous times as premarital counsellors and found…
Written by Mitch Temple Ten practical tips to help and encourage a friend in a struggling marriage: Pray for them by name. Ask God to intervene in their marriage. Ask God to give you and others wisdom to know how to help. Pray in their presence as well as when alone.…
Written by Mark Littleton We all go into marriage expecting certain things. Many of us have at least one of three common expectations – what I might call “marriage myths” – about how our spouses should fulfil our needs. When these expectations aren’t met, disappointment and conflict inevitably result. By examining…
Written by Josh Duvauchelle In the schoolyard, you probably gave your sweetheart a paper heart with “I like U a LOT” painstakingly scribbled on it in your favourite crayon colour. Since then, you’ve come a long way in terms of communicating your love to your spouse. But even the best marriage can…
by Lisa Whelchel If your kids whinges or has temper tantrums, take a look at these discipline ideas: Throwing a Tantrum Does your child slam the door when she’s angry? You might tell her, “It’s obvious that you don’t know how to close a door properly. To learn, you will…
So what are your children getting for Christmas? All of the latest Star Wars toys? The newest game system? Maybe a new smart phone or tablet? How about a massive Lego playset, or the Playmobil Dragon Knights Castle? Or perhaps none of the above. You might love to buy them…
When daily failures become life lessons by Laura Polk If there were a midterm exam in motherhood, I’d fail it. My lecturers? Three too-intelligent-for-their-own-good mini-versions of my husband and myself. That’s right, our three school-age children. Surely, they would enjoy poring over the long list of mummy mess-ups that translate…
