When an Unemployed Adult Son or Daughter Lives at Home
As your child grows, the template needs to shift from parent-child to adult-adult. They’re not your adult child; they are your adult son or adult daughter. They’ve become your peer. But breaking the once-a-parent-always-a-parent mindset is difficult and can strain the relationship between a husband and wife. A common reason for this tension? When capable […]
When You Can’t Seem to Bridge the Emotional Gap in Your Marriage
Loneliness in marriage is deeply hurtful and exhausting. You might have tried everything to get help — including professional counseling — but it feels like your spouse can’t or won’t connect with you. Consider three easy-to-miss issues that might contribute to the emotional distance in your marriage: autism spectrum disorder, reactive attachment disorder, and traumatic […]
Are You Purpling?: The Battle of Wills
Now you’re probably wondering, “What in the world is purpling? Is that even a word?” My spell check says it is not, but read on and I’ll explain what I mean by “purpling.” You see God has two wills – His perfect will and His permissive will. We’re in one or the other at all […]
When Your Married Son or Daughter Seems Emotionally Distant
Learning to relate to your adult son or daughter in healthy ways takes wisdom. And for many parents, switching gears from connecting as parent-child to adult-adult isn’t easy. You know you need to let them go, but you don’t want to lose a close relationship. That’s not a bad thing; God designed moms and dads […]
The Teen Suicide Pandemic
There is a pandemic affecting adolescents that has been growing in severity for decades, without the coverage or attention that it deserves. Suicide is a hard subject to talk about, and in many cultures speaking of any mental illness or problem includes the connotation that those struggling mentally are defective members of society, overreacting to […]
How to Deal Wisely With Manipulative People
Note: This piece gives a broad overview of emotional manipulation. But manipulation in marriage can be more complex and must be addressed with sensitivity and care. If you’re married and wonder about the differences between an unhealthy exchange and abuse, we encourage you to read our article Signs of Emotional Abuse. We’ve all known manipulative people, […]
How to Deal Wisely With Manipulative People
Note: This piece gives a broad overview of emotional manipulation. But manipulation in marriage can be more complex and must be addressed with sensitivity and care. If you’re married and wonder about the differences between an unhealthy exchange and abuse, we encourage you to read our article Signs of Emotional Abuse. We’ve all known manipulative people, […]
Anger: Harmful or Helpful?
When was the last time you were grateful for being angry? Were you ever thankful to have gotten angry? I often hear that anger is not good. Anger is destructive. Anger is selfish. Anger is harmful. Anger is blinding. But what if anger can be good and helpful? What if we could be honest when […]
Aftershock Devotional Series #9:
Set Yourself Up for Success
Successis sometimes defined as “reaching a particular goal, achieving a desired end, and relishing victory over defeat.” However, success is often found in the process rather than a single destination. And just think how far you’ve come as you’ve confronted your spouse’s sexual sin. Most importantly, you have given God room to work. You have […]
Aftershock Devotional Series #9:
Set Yourself Up for Success
Successis sometimes defined as “reaching a particular goal, achieving a desired end, and relishing victory over defeat.” However, success is often found in the process rather than a single destination. And just think how far you’ve come as you’ve confronted your spouse’s sexual sin. Most importantly, you have given God room to work. You have […]
