Encouragement. It can be given and received in so many ways: A smile. A thoughtful text. Thanking a restaurant server or store clerk by name. Giving a hug. Cheering for someone during their performance. Sending a card in the mail. Calling someone just to let them know you’re thinking of Read more…
I’m firing up the blog rhythm today with a series about the tremendous freeing value of lightening your load. We will look at four different ways we can unnecessarily weigh ourselves down in life, how we can let go of the burdens we need not carry, and the incredible difference Read more…
If you have been following this series, I hope you now have a clear picture of some of the essential tools you can share with your kids and teens to help them live as well as possible – without addiction. The first four skills we examined are about different ways Read more…
As we begin looking at how cultivating a life of service to others guards our teens against the allure of addiction, let me tell you why I chose this image to illustrate the point: Facebook reminded me yesterday that this is what happened two years ago. My family and I Read more…
Let’s be realistic. Not every hard thing you or your kids will face in life is of giant proportion. It’s not always little David with his five little stones and his faith in God running out to meet the monstrous Goliath (But read the story – Goliath is truly humongous, Read more…
As we continue this parenting series on how to help our teens prevent addiction in their lives, we move from the importance of living honestly to the power of working for long-term rewards. This gets to what motivates us and drives our decision making process. Seriously important stuff! Allow me Read more…
We begin this series of how parents can empower our kids against the destructive pathways of addiction by looking at the freeing power of living with a pattern of honesty and integrity. When I use the term, “honesty,” I mean the sincere effort to communicate about life as it really Read more…
Addiction. We seem to hear more about it all the time. New forms of addiction. New addiction treatment options. Someone famous has been crushed by an addiction. This is what addiction is costing society. And on and on and on. Addiction is a serious issue that devastates countless lives. And Read more…
Your kids are about to be out of school for the summer. They may already be stricken with “spring fever,” and can’t wait to be out of school for a good long stretch. That’s cool. We’ve all been there. They should enjoy their summer break. I just want to challenge Read more…
Life gets tough. And busy. And distracting. And even discouraging. Right? While it may take many different forms from family to family, I love that our country continues to recognize a holiday that is all about giving thanks. Whether as individuals, families, organizations, communities, or nations – we are better Read more…