When Dave was in his late 30’s, he and his dad had a major blow up. Whatever it was about, it shook both men to their core and resulted in a break in communication that lasted for over a year. The silence was deafening. Dave mentioned this rift to an older gentleman friend who wisely said, “You’re the only one who can mend it. And you should.” That was it. He said no more. That [...]
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. – Reinhold Niebuhr These are complex and troubled times. Some families have been hit hard, some less so, and some even harder. If we look at economics alone, money is like oxygen, how do people react when deprived of it for any length of time? It’s completely understandable [...]
Happiness is a lifted spirit, an optimism in outlook. To live a life where happiness is a regular companion is to be faithful and persistent, willing to persevere through life’s challenges. A lifted Spirit develops emotional reserves to maintain goodwill for family and friends where you can respond and not react. A lifted spirit is a skill that can be taught and should be a family character trait, not so much where you absolutely must [...]
“Friends will come and go, but you’ll have your brother and sister forever. Remember, you guys are best friends.” We told this to our kids over and over again, submitting this jewel of family culture into their little subconscious minds. At the end of every bickering argument and tug of war, we would coach them on how to resolve the issue and conclude by stating factually that the family bonds were strong and “You are best [...]
"¿Puedo ir en bicicleta al parque con Ryan?" "¡No, hoy no, cariño!" Comenzando durante los años de la infancia y continuando durante toda la adolescencia, existe una tendencia de crianza que se filtra en la psique de un niño e influye profundamente en sus motivaciones, esfuerzos e incluso en su propia personalidad. Como padres, traemos nuestra propia infancia al matrimonio y necesitamos estar en la misma página al brindar respuestas a la solicitud de nuestros [...]
“Can I ride my bike to the park with Ryan?” “No, not today sweetie!” Starting during the toddler years and continuing all through the adolescent years, there is a parenting tendency that seeps into a child’s psyche and deeply influences their motivations, efforts, and even their very personality. As parents we bring our own childhood into the marriage and need to get on the same page when providing answers to our children’s request. Lis grew up in [...]
Ustedes han sido bendecidos con hijos maravillosos cuya naturaleza misma es de amor y de aprendizaje. Y tú eres su maestro en ambos. Temporada tras temporada, tendrás estos retoños tuyos que te mirarán para guiarlos en los caminos del amor y los caminos del mundo. Es así de simple. Al igual que el jardinero que siempre tiene una nueva cosecha de desafíos de malezas e insectos, días soleados y nublados, tendrá su propio conjunto único [...]
You have been blessed with wonderful children whose very nature is one of love and of learning. And you are their teacher in both. Season after season, you’ll have these saplings of yours that will look to you to guide them in the ways of love and the ways of the world. It’s just that simple. Like the gardener who always has a new crop of challenges of weeds and insects, sunny days and cloudy, [...]
Para su hijo, Dios se ve y actúa como usted. Llegarán a entender el amor de Dios basándose en cómo han experimentado tu amor. Su autoestima se basará en esa comprensión, un amor que encuentra el equilibrio adecuado de palabras y acciones para alentar, persuadir y moldear el comportamiento y el esfuerzo adecuados. Su vida es un viaje divino de descubrimiento guiado por ti. Y para aquellos padres que comprenden la profundidad de esta bendición, [...]
To your child, God looks and acts like you. They will come to understand God’s love based on how they have experienced your love. Their self-worth will be based on that understanding - a love that finds the right balance of words and actions to encourage, coax, and mold appropriate behavior and effort. Their life is a divine journey of discovery guided by you. And for those parents who understand the depth of this blessing, [...]