Equipping Parents for The Journey
In part one of our Parenting Pathway series Mentoring and Modeling Approach to Parenting, Family Ministries Pastor Dave Carl and church member Brad Buhl talk about modeling manhood for our boys. There are few events in the modern boy’s life where he can point to a line and say, “Today I am a man!”...
Why would we tackle such a subjective word? “Good” is a word open to opinion and discussion. “Good” can be defined very differently from person to person and situation to situation. And when you apply the word “Good” to parenting, you now find yourself on very shaky ground. What is a “Good” parent? Who...
Recently, at church on a Sunday morning, I saw a young elementary-age boy having a bad morning. He started to throw a fit because he didn’t want to go to class. I felt for him and was two seconds from stepping in when his mom bent over and calmly explained, “We talked about this...
I have heard this conversation more than once in the last couple weeks… Mom A says, “Hi Mom B, I haven’t seen you in a few weeks, how’s your summer going?” Mom B replies, “We’re making it.” Mom A nods her head in complete understanding. I love summer. I start looking forward to it...
The television host leaned over to make sure the microphone was close to the precocious girl’s mouth. He’d just asked her, along with a panel of other school-aged children, about the real meaning of Easter. Her classmates’ answers ranged from getting candy and trinkets from the Easter Bunny to marking the official beginning of spring....
I attended high school in the late 70’s. There were many things that were uncertain. There were gasoline shortages. On even numbered days, you could only get gas if the last number on your license was an even number. Interest rates were through the roof. I got a car loan for my first used...
I remember very distinctly the day that we found out our firstborn was going to be a boy. It was the most terrifying day of my life to date. As soon as we learned we were having a boy, we raced down to meet my family for dinner to share the news. After dinner,...
When I tell stories, I like to pretend I’m Sophia Petrillo from The Golden Girls; she was the best golden girl and I’ll go to the mattresses over that fact, but I digress. “Picture it. Frisco. 2017.” See what I did there? Jensen was 17 months old and the chubbiest little tot I had...
I think we can all agree that no child has ever had to be taught how to misbehave, make bad choices, or even lie. That is something we are all born with—the ability to sin. The Bible tells us that “we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)....
I was having one of those parenting days. You know. Those days. My child was losing his ever-loving mind, bless his heart. And I was getting dangerously close to losing mine. So, I did the only thing a logical mother does in her time of stress… I sent everyone to their rooms for a...
You are at a restaurant to have a nice meal and a lovely time of visiting with your spouse, family, or friends. You are forced into hearing what is happening at the next booth. “Stop that! What are you doing?” the mom asks in frustration. “But I don’t want to eat it” whines the...
I walked to the front of the church donning the most beautiful white dress, matched only in sweetness by the simple veil with delicate flower petals adorning my head. After the service, my parents hosted a party at our home complete with a cross cake (is that sacrilegious?) and gifts (my favorite being a St. Francis charm from...
