Parenting

My 11-year-old daughter looked at me as we were walking out of the theater and said excitedly, “That movie made my day.” I’m sure plenty of other kids will say the same.

This summer, I am making it a point to say yes more often. Yes, to fun. Yes, to time together. Yes, to spontaneity. Yes, to crazy, out of the normal ideas. Yes, I know the sound of that may not sound fun if you are an initial "no" person like me. But, when we strive to bond with our children and cultivate simple joy, it starts by saying yes!

If I were to ask you to tell me all of the Bible verses and stories that you remember off of the top of your head, what would you say? Would the majority of these be from recent study or childhood? Although everyone’s stories are different, many of us grew up learning about Jesus and the Bible from our parents and our churches. Perhaps you were in a Christian school where there was an entire class dedicated to Scripture memory? As much as I dreaded those quizzes sometimes, I have God’s Word hidden in my heart because of them.Today, we are going to address why Biblical literacy is so important for children.Photo credit:©Getty Images/rudi_suardi

The gospel — the story of God living a human life, giving up that life to defeat death, and rising up again as a human with a whole new kind of life — makes perfect sense out of foster parenting.First off, in Christ, God’s love came alongside and inhabited our lives. He didn’t stand far off, at a safe distance, and attempt to fix the world’s problems with a zap of his miracle-working power. Rather, he choose tobecomehuman (John 1:14). Perhaps most surprising of all, when he picked out a human life for himself, he chose low social standing, poverty, and disdain (2 Corinthians 8:9; Isaiah 53:3).What can this say to us about foster parenting?Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Nastco

Because we understand where our strength comes from, and when it comes to our kids, only God-sized strength will do.

Family devotion also serves as a testimony to the world of the reality and power of the gospel.

As an adult, I've struggled with anxiety, all the while hoping and praying my kids would be spared the same struggle. Unfortunately, it seems anxiety is something my kids have begun to experience. Thankfully, my personal battle has given me eyes to see the difficulty they are facing. When I think back to my childhood, I had similar struggles that I observe in my own children, but no one was able to identify this as anxiety. Research has shown that children of a parent with an anxiety disorder have a 33 percent higher chance of having it themselves.Anxiety can feel like a beast that is daunting to defeat, but the good news is it is possible to overcome the sensations that flood our minds and bodies when anxiety hits. We can help our children by teaching them strategies that lead to a more peaceful mind and body. It's our job to walk alongside them as they learn to understand how their minds and bodies work.Here are a few tips to help you calm your anxious child:

What if your dad is leaving you a little bewildered, and you want to do something truly different this year, but you can't seem to conjure up any new or unique ideas? Well, not to fret; I've gotcha covered! First, tap into what makes your dad tick. What does he enjoy or like to do in his spare time? Is he a golfer? Does he love boats? Maybe he likes to explore and step out in nature.

Nobody feels cool in middle school - not even the self-proclaimed orassumedcool kid crowd. It's one of the times in our lives when everything changes at once. The time we need to be reminded of what doesn't change.

God is present in all stages of life. This is sweetly evident as a child is being formed in the womb. Parents watch from the outside in amazement as carefully designed processes unfold. Besides the body, the child’s identity and uniqueness are also mysteriously being formed.Sometimes, however, our wonder turns to worry. The technology that provides us a glimpse into our hidden child’s life also provides warning signs when there is a problem.Some parents have received news from doctors that their child is not likely to have a viable chance at life. A vital organ may not be developing properly. A chromosomal problem may indicate that the child’s quality of life would be unbearable. When one small problem leads to catastrophe, we realize that every earthly life is fragile.Photo credit:©Getty Images/Doble D.

The most important thing you can do is to be an example to your children. How can we expect them to give freely if they don't see you giving?Just as we are to be Christ's example in every area of our lives, we can also be a good example through our giving. Although it takes faith to tithe, especially when money is tight, it demonstrates that God is a good God that provides for his children.

You may not have heard of it yet, but there’s a new approach to parenting. It’s called “gentle” parenting. It emphasizes the emotions of the child. The parent is a coach rather than a disciplinarian.

Hearing my mother be vulnerable with me about the state of our finances was comforting. I couldn't do anything to change the situation. However, I'm glad they were able to share their struggles with me. Because I knew they were struggling, it made it easy for me not to ask them for anything frivolous as they could not afford it.

There’s a lot to like about May. Flowers are abundant. Sunshine is, too. Vacations are just around the corner. So are blockbuster movies.May is also an excellent month for streaming. This month, a major faith-based documentary hits the home video market. An E.T.-like family film lands on Netflix. A family-friendly stand-up comedy act debuts on Prime. And Pure Flix launches a series of excellent movies.Here are the seven best family movies streaming in May:Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Undefined Undefined

The afternoon our senior-in-high-school son announced, “I’m applying to San Angelo State University’s in ROTC so I can become a fighter pilot,” sticks in my heart like a hive of turbulent bees. Part of me was proud, but most of me was scared spitless.“Why Angelo State?” his step-father asked. My son was quick to reply, “They have been in the top honor flights in the nation for the past five years. It’s a smaller school with the same number of flight drops.” Apparently, he had spent a great deal of time planning and thinking—more than we gave him credit for doing. But I’ve spent a number of years since that moment with one ear tuned to the tube, the other to the telephone, and a great deal of time on my knees. All these years later prove, with prayer and God’s approval, dreams can be fulfilled.So, what’s a parent to do when their child seeks a career we would never have chosen for them?

You might want to give up on God. You might want to give up on life. But God’s grace is available. Grab it and hold on tight. His grace never runs dry. It has no limits. Today, tomorrow, and forever, His grace is sufficient for us. That means it is always enough.

Christians, share these comforting and strengthening passages with families suffering through miscarriage. We can also comfort unbelievers with the same passages, assuring our beloved ones of the hope we have in Christ.

As moms, it’s good to find God’s direction for what challenges us – like getting enough rest. For these and other struggles, as well as joys, we look to Scripture.Rest“Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’ He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm” (Matthew 8:24-25).Another night of interrupted sleep. I’m speaking about Jesus, but it applies to many moms. He slept in the boat, exhausted from speaking all day. But a storm came and cries for him to wake up started. He stood up, calmed the storm, and said, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!”How often does a mom wish her children would trust they are safe and have faith in both their parents and God. Jesus gets it, and understands how tiring a day can become. Read Matthew 8:1-22 to see what Jesus did that day.Other moms get it too. I had a few nights in a row where I had a different child wake up every hour and then rotate through a second time. I tried to bargain with God for sleep, and finally the only though in my head was 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient.” I prayed “may the sleep you give me be sufficient even though there’s only fifteen minutes until it’s time to rise.” I dozed off for those minutes and felt like I had slept eight hours. God can give us rest and peace. He knows our needs.Reflect on other Scriptures for rest:Philippians 4:8-9, Isaiah 26:3 - Physical rest, ceasing from work1 Peter 5:7, Mark 4:19 - Seeds that are choked are compared to worries that distract us. We are encouraged to let go of themJohn 14:27 - Focusing on peace from Jesus instead of troublesMatthew 14:23, Luke 5:15-15 - The need to be alone to prayPhoto credit: ©Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages

One mom really stood out to me. She genuinely seemed to enjoy being a mom. One day I pulled her aside to ask her, “How do you do it? You seem to sincerely enjoy the mundane life of motherhood.” With eyes wide open, she responded, “I love it. And do you know what? If I could do it all over again, I would go back to when my kids were little and just enjoy them for who they are.”

The empty nest syndrome isn't a clinical diagnosis. Instead, it is a phenomenon in which parents experience feelings of sadness, loss, angst, and loneliness when the last child leaves home.