Around this time of year, sweet cards fill the aisles of your local Rite-Aid or CVS, decorated with butterflies and flowers. Mother’s Day is on its way, and it seems like everyone in line has a bright bouquet of flowers and note to tuck into an envelope. But for… Read More

Who needs to call a repairman when you have a father who is handy? Washer stopped spinning? Refrigerator making a weird noise? My dad was always happy to come over and save the day. Until the day he said No. I knew it wasn’t like Dad to refuse a chance… Read More

I can still see it: Dad standing on the bleachers in my middle school gymnasium, clapping his hands raw because his daughter had been named Student of the Month. I can also still see this: the empty space in the auditorium where Dad should have been to witness my… Read More

Being a father has given me ample opportunity to reconsider my beliefs in light of Scripture. I was coached to be firm with my children: to hold boundaries and enforce obedience. These beliefs were underscored with biblical texts, “If you don’t punish your children, you don’t love them. If you… Read More

“Where are my keys?” my Mom asked. This was my cue. You see, I was always a bit of a rascal growing up—very well behaved at school but quite the prankster at home. As I got older, I abandoned my more complex antics and kept things sweet and simple:… Read More

You know the scene all too well. As you sit down for dinner, you can feel the eyes of your mother-in-law tracking your every move. You sit up straight, take a deep breath and make eye contact with her, flashing a half smile. She reciprocates the expression, but you… Read More

Have you ever felt tense in the presence of your in-laws? Maybe you bite your lip as your father-in-law shares a strong opinion with your spouse—a point of view you don’t share. Or maybe, as you prepare to visit your spouse’s family, you cringe over the differences between your… Read More