Tag: Family & Relationships

My dad would often tell me, "You'll never quite understand my love for you until you are older and have little ones of your own." Like any good teenager, I would contradict his statement, rejecting the notion that parental love was different. But oh, the truth our forebears hold! Sure enough, I now have a little one I love in a unique and immensely strong way. Dad was right.

This weekend I added an event to my calendar for Feb. 14. And it reminded me that I’ve spent most Valentine’s Days alone. It got me to thinking about a book we read for a monthly book group called all about love: "New Visions" by Bell Hooks.

Today we're launching a new weekly feature, per the suggestion of our writers.

Part of our mission is to spark dialogue in this community about faith and ethics. This dialogue, we believe, can lead to changed minds, better understanding, an increase in interfaith work and a more tolerant community.

The biggest spiritual lesson I learned this year is time stops for no one.

I had two of my four kids move out during the summer. My only daughter got married and my oldest son moved out with a buddy.

A friend of mine did me a giant favor recently. She talked someone out of giving me the gift of an eHarmony membership. The gifter in question is one of those people who think the state of matrimony is the ultimate ideal. Occasionally, I am privy to comments such as, “You’ll make someone a good wife someday because you can cook well,” or “I believe you’ll get married someday...."

There are more troubled youth out there than we know.  They reside in homes we think of as near perfect.  Most parents with troubled kids keep quiet.  We don’t want to be seen as deficient.  How can we allow our child to be so ‘undisciplined?’

On Jan. 5 best selling author Gary Thomas will be at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls, Idaho to lead the Sacred Marriage Conference for Couples.

The conference will focus on turning marital struggles into personal appreciation...