Helping Teens Find Purpose: Guiding Our Children Toward a Life of Meaning

Teenagers today are facing a crisis of meaning. Studies show rising levels of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness among young people, and much of it is linked to a deep sense of purposelessness. Without a clear direction, many teens feel lost—disconnected from a greater story, unsure of where they belong, and uncertain about what truly matters.

It Takes a Village: The Importance of Mentors

By Jamie Roach

Hope for the Holidays: Navigating Family Dynamics

By Tim and Olivia Smith

A Well Spoken Word: Speaking Life and Love into the Hearts of Our Children and Grandchildren

As parents and grandparents, we may wonder if our words hold much weight with the young people in our lives. Sometimes it seems as if what we say goes in one ear and out the other. But the truth is, our words can leave a lasting imprint on the hearts of our children. Whether spoken in a quiet moment, shared in a quick text, or written in a letter to revisit years later, intentional words of love and encouragement have the power to build trust, affirm worth, and remind our kids they are deeply valued.

Striking the Social Media Balance

As Christian parents, we face unprecedented challenges raising children in a digital age. The rise of social media, especially among adolescents, has drastically transformed the landscape of parenting. While we want to help our children develop meaningful relationships and foster healthy emotional growth, we also want to protect them from the detrimental effects of social media on the mental health of young people.

Have You Inadvertently Become a Burden Your Child Must Carry?

As parents, one of our greatest joys is watching our children discover their passions, engage in activities, and develop their skills and identities. Whether it’s sports, music, or academics, we invest significant time, energy, and resources into supporting their pursuits. Yet, we must reflect on how to truly support them in ways that nurture their growth, build secure attachment, and foster spiritual and emotional well-being. Jamie Roach, LPC, shares five key ways that parents can best support their kids in their activities.

Finding Ourselves in The Psalms: How “Inside Out” and the Psalms help us understand and express emotions

By Mimi Keel

Keeping Our Cool When Our Kids Are Hot

Children, in their developmental exploration, often encounter rising temperatures of anger, disappointment and fear—leaving parents in a pivotal position to guide them back to more comfortable temperatures. The significance of parental emotional regulation in these moments cannot be overstressed, both from a Christian perspective and through the lens of affective neuroscience, or how the brain processes emotions.

Much like a thermostat regulates the temperature within a home, a parent’s presence sets the emotional temperature. A thermostat does not mirror temperature, it actively sets and maintains it. Likewise, parents who see themselves as a kind of emotional thermostat actively shape the emotional temperature of their home.

Parents as Historians

By Natasha Nikkel

Dashed Dreams and New Beginnings: Supporting our kids as they find their own way

Minutes after she was born and as the nurses were performing their post-delivery tasks, I reached out to touch our newborn daughter’s hand with my finger. She wrapped her tiny hand around my finger, and I was struck by the sight of her slender, spidery fingers and the strength I felt in her grip. I whispered to her, “Look at those volleyball hands.”