No matter what the illness, it’s hard to watch children suffer. Even if they haven’t faced a serious illness, most children have experienced the kind of frustration and fear that comes from being sick. Not only is it scary for them to have to face an illness, but it often leaves parents and caregivers feeling scared and anxious too. Being sick can raise big questions in children’s hearts, but it...
Holidays can be really tough, since they naturally draw attention to our losses, both recent and in the distant past. Comparison doesn’t help, as we look at other people’s lives, families, and social gatherings and feel the hole in our heart grow even larger. We just went through another December, which is always a really hard month for our family. Late this past year, we buried my dad. Two...
Some of the most burdensome moments for a parent are when it is clear to those around you that your child is defiant or difficult. What are other people thinking? What does this say about me as a parent? They might assume your child’s behavior is a result of inadequate parenting or something else amiss in your home. People may even be bold enough to share their views, without any sense of the...
As grandparents, we are called to share the Bible with our grandchildren, just as we did with our own children. It may seem harder since your grandchildren aren’t likely in your home, but be encouraged. The Lord can use you to have memory-making, life-shaping Bible studies with your grandchild. Let’s break down this idea into manageable steps by asking the traditional questions: “who,” “what,”...
Dearest Brother, I know you are discouraged and distressed this morning. The trials and temptations you’ve faced this past week have brought you low. Suffering clouds your vision. Sin’s hangover—guilt, shame, and doubt—still pounds in your soul. The hardships you face and the failures you recounted to me loom large in your life. They seem to be what is most true, most real, and most compelling...
