Tag Archives: Encouragement

Ever Feel You Don’t Get it Right?

Sorry everyone, the days got away from me which is why my post for this blog didn’t go up yesterday. But in God’s timing even that worked out, because I want to share something that came up last night at bible study. Our home group has been studying Mark’s gospel. One of the things that struck me is the attitudes of the disciples. They are such an encouragement to those of us who struggle in our Christian life, which I assume is not just me but most of us. Even though they had Jesus right there with them and they … Continue reading →

The Price of Nagging

Be warned – nagging comes at a price. Yesterday’s headlines carried the story of a man in the UK who offered his nagging wife, who he married only last year, for sale. Apparently he claims that he did it as a joke. But the sad and scary thing is he actually had a number of people ringing up about his ad. What does this say about our society and views about marriage about people? Are we going back to the days when women were considered a commodity to be bought and sold at will like a piece of household furniture? … Continue reading →

How to Keep Your Marriage on Track

Do you want to know how to keep your marriage on track? Recent blogs have looked at the ups and downs in marriage. While Mary Ann’s been focusing on the things that can disrupt and harm a marriage and how to deal with them, I’ve mostly focused on the positive side of trying to build a marriage up. Together they give a good picture of what is involved in keeping a marriage on track. My calendar the other day says ‘little kindnesses, little acts of considerateness (I would have said consideration, but you get the drift), little appreciations, little confidences…they … Continue reading →

What Works on the Court and in Marriage

Playing tennis can teach us something about marriage. When Mick and I partner each other at tennis and the opposition drops a short ball I tend to say ‘up, up, up’. He always found it helpful when we played competition tennis. The number of ‘ups’ was indicative of how fast he needed to move on the court. Even though we’re playing social tennis now and enjoy it, we’re still out there to try and win. Throughout the game we encourage each one when one of us hits a good shot and encourage each other to keep going when either of … Continue reading →

Be Encouraged

I admit to having a soft spot for Jacob in the Bible. Yes, he was a liar and a cheat. But he was also a man who knew what was important. Jacob saw the value of the birthright when Esau didn’t, Genesis 25:31-34. Although the methods he and his mother, Rebekah, employed to gain his father’s blessing were underhanded and deceitful, Genesis 27:1-29, they both paid the penalty for that. Jacob had to leave home because of his brother’s anger, Genesis 27:42-45. Though they both thought it would be only for a short time, Jacob never saw his mother again. … Continue reading →

Letting Them Solve Problems WITHOUT Interference

We often talk about the road to independence here in the Parents blog and we also talk about teaching, guidance and intervention. I thought that it was high time we talk about letting our children solve problems without a word or intervention from us as parents. It can be hard; much easier said than done; but if they are to develop problem-solving skills and confidence, the children need opportunities to tackle things without our getting in the way. When a child is learning to walk, he or she falls down—it is a given. As a parent do you rush over … Continue reading →

Supporting Others who are Going Through a Divorce

Divorce is one of those experiences that no one can fully understand until they have been through it. No matter how many movies and televisions shows one watches, getting through a divorce is more intense and consuming than anything one might imagine. Whether you are the one who instigates the divorce or not, or whether or not you know that it is the right thing to do—if there are children involved and it requires a reorganization of your family, no one understands like someone who has been there, done that. I think this is one of the reasons that those … Continue reading →

When a Child Refuses to Try

“Well, as long as you try—that is what is important!” How many times has a phrase like this been uttered by parents? If you are the type of parent who likes to focus on the process and on trying and attempting, instead of on outcome, it can be incredibly frustrating when a child refuses to try or claims constantly “I can’t do it!” It is common for toddlers and young children to go through a phase where they try to get someone else to do things for them or they claim that they just can’t do something. There are also … Continue reading →

The Thorny Problem of Compliments

Compliments can be tricky – tricky to give and to receive. The Bible warns us against people who flatter others ‘for the sake of gaining an advantage’ Jude 16. We are told in Proverbs 26:28 ‘a lying tongue hates those it crushes and a flattering mouth works ruin.’ So if we plan on complimenting someone, our words must not be insincere flattery but must be heartfelt. In Proverbs 28:23 we learn ‘He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.’ That is because flattery often has a false ring to it. Proverbs … Continue reading →

A Family Art Gallery

With three children making pictures, it never took long to fill up the space on the front of the refrigerator. We started several art galleries in our house to showcase their work. Framing the children’s art makes them feel important. And I love the way it looks on our walls. It’s a fun family look. I’m not talking frame shops here, but something you can do yourself. If you’ve ever had a piece of art framed you know that it’s very expensive, and you probably picked from a mat or two to highlight the art. You can easily copy the … Continue reading →