“Sliding Door Moments” are the words or gestures communicated to others that—despite seeming inconsequential—deeply affect the most important relationships in our lives. In the fluster of the holiday season, sliding door moments are easy to miss. When multitasking, you can’t concentrate adequately on any one thing. You lose sight of what is important. Opportunities for…
Even though the holiday season is upon us and things are going to get busy, that doesn’t mean you and your spouse or the person you are dating should skip date nights. This time of year, it’s especially important to stay connected. Now that the warm days of summer are over, the weather is getting…
For generations, many boys have been taught the same lesson—sometimes explicitly, often subtly: don’t cry, don’t be scared, don’t be emotional. Sadness is brushed off. Fear is minimized. Vulnerability is framed as weakness. But what happens when we raise boys this way? When boys are told they shouldn’t cry when they are sad or admit…
Holidays are marketed as joyful and magical. There are family gatherings, holiday company parties, winter celebrations and more. Yet for many people it can be a time of pain, especially when there is loss. The holidays can intensify this as the contrast between togetherness and loneliness expands. People can feel more invisible as their pain…
When our daughters were younger, and we were going on little sleep and abiding an infant and toddler schedule, we found ourselves sleepwalking into that in-between stage. Maybe you know what I mean? It’s where Christmas borderlines the place where everything is magical and fun, but little ones are still too young to “get it”…
Holidays can be stressful. There may be unrealistically high expectations for the holiday season. People often carry idealized images of what the holidays should look like—magic, harmony, beauty. When reality doesn’t match those expectations, you may feel disappointed. Causes of holiday stress The holiday season layers multiple stressors simultaneously: Financial pressure (gifts, travel, hosting) Rushed…
Among the top parenting regrets nursed by older parents is the thorny issue of discipline. Some regret having been too lenient while disciplining their children, while a good number fear that they went too far. The line between being too lenient and parenting with an iron fist can appear blurred. Thankfully, the Bible is rich…
Infidelity profoundly disrupts the foundation of a relationship. It’s that moment when everything you thought was solid crumbles, leaving behind raw hurt, confusion, and a sense of betrayal that’s difficult to shake. For the person who’s been cheated on, the pain can feel like all-consuming waves of anger, sadness, and doubt about whether things can…
Sexual Desire Discrepancy One of the most common problems in a sexual relationship is a mismatch in sex drives, also known as a sexual desire discrepancy. This is where one partner desires sex more frequently than the other. The cycle usually goes like this: The higher desire partner initiates sex repeatedly, the lower desire partner…
One of my favorite Bible passages for relationships is James 3:17, which says, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” The New King James Version replaces the word “submissive” with the phrase “willing to yield,” which paints…