Focus on the Family Magazine

Beyond One-Word

Answers

LOVING (AND LIKING)

YOUR SPOUSE

Helping Families Thrive in Christ

AUG / SEPT 2025

New!

THE THRIVING

FAMILY PODCAST

Page 5

Help families

in Canada thrive!

Knowing how to have a family that thrives is difficult.

It takes effort. And parents and grandparents today

are struggling to know how to raise children in a

culture so at odds with biblical truth.

But that’s why we’re here.

Will you

donate today?

At Focus on the Family Canada, we know that when

families are equipped with practical advice grounded

in Scripture, they can thrive as God intended.

Your gift today will help Canadians nurture, protect

and invest in their families so they can thrive—even in

the messy brokenness of our world.

FocusOnTheFamily.ca/Donate

1.800.661.9800

25

31

ILLUSTRATIONS - HAO HAO / DANIELLE STRINGER / ADOBE STOCK - GEDEL, LA FAMIGLIA, TUNEDIN

AUG / SEPT 2025

In Every Issue

4 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

5 MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT

6 OFF THE SHELF

8 AGE & STAGE

15 GRANDKIDS

18 MEMORY VERSE

46 MY CANADIAN FAMILY

Parenting

11 BEYOND ONE-WORD

ANSWERS

Three types of

conversations to

have with your teens

by Dr. Danny Huerta

13 DON’T WASTE YOUR

WAITING

Trust God’s direction and

timing with your adult kids

by Mark Vroegop

19 AN INTERVIEW WITH

ANDREW MONTGOMERY

Encouraging others by

showing vulnerability

The Thriving Family podcast

20 ADOLESCENTS & SOCIAL

WITHDRAWAL

by Adam Holz

41

Marriage

22 WHEN COUPLES

STOP TALKING

Healthy conversations are

more than covering the

daily to-dos

by Dr. Greg Smalley

24 HOW TO RESPOND WHEN A

FRIEND REVEALS TENSION

IN THEIR MARRIAGE

Supporting your friend by

supporting their marriage

The Thriving Family podcast

25 LOVING (AND LIKING)

YOUR SPOUSE

Four key touchpoints to

strengthen your marriage

by Arlene Pellicane

29 LET’S MAKE TIME FOR US

Tips for staying connected

during the back-to-school

season

by the Focus on the Family

marriage team

Faith

36 WISDOM BOOKS OF

SCRIPTURE

What these Old Testament

books teach us about

engaging with life’s big

questions

by Subby Szterszky

40 SEEING THROUGH OUR

CULTURE TO FIND GOD

In the studio with Jim Daly

An interview with Alexandra

Kuykendall

41 A SPIRITUAL RENEWAL

How Focus on the Family

Canada’s Kerith Retreats

made all the difference for

one burned out pastor and

his wife

by Camryn Munday

31 LAWS OF LOVE

Cherishing your spouse

through action

by Dave Willis

18

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

President

Jim Daly

Focus Canada

President

Jean-Paul Beran

Chief Operating

O ffi c e r

Ken Windebank

Director of Content

Operations

Kevin Shirin

Editor-in-Chief

Jesse Florea

Art Director

Sally Dunn

Designer

Julie Vieux

Cover

Imagery

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Administrative

Assistant

Lennis Pugh

Circulation

Erika Gaulke

Senior Editorial

Director

Sheila Seifert

Copy Chief

Scott DeNicola

Managing Editor

Andrea Gutierrez

Focus Canada

Contributors

Laurisha Blackstock

Magnus Magat

Camryn Munday

Amanda Regan

Subby Szterszky

Amy Van Veen

Introducing our new

Canadian podcast

Jean-Paul Beran is the

president of Focus on

the Family Canada.

WITH MY TRAVELS FOR Focus on the Family Canada, I have been

blessed with the opportunity to visit cities across our great country and meet

dozens of amazing people just like you. From coast to coast, I hear from

Canadians who are looking for help as they raise their families.

That’s why I’m so excited to tell you about our new uniquely Canadian

podcast, The Thriving Family!

As president of Focus on the Family Canada and now host of The Thriving

Family, I consider it a privilege to share with you biblically based guidance from

experts, as well as stories from fellow Canadians who are learning how to be a

better spouse, parent and follower of Christ.

This has been a passion project for our team and a long time coming! In

season one, you’ll hear episodes on the topic of conflict and communication.

Whether you’re wondering how to set boundaries in your marriage or with

your in-laws, how to help a strong-willed child or an adult child who won’t

grow up, or how to come alongside a friend, there’s something for everyone in

The Thriving Family.

In this busy back-to-school season, you can listen to this podcast on the go!

Visit FocusOnTheFamily.ca/Podcast to stream online or download our free

app—or listen wherever you get to your podcasts.

And remember, if you need extra help, we’re just a click, email or phone call

away. Please visit our website at FocusOnTheFamily.ca, email us at info@fotf.ca

or call our team at 1.800.661.9800. We’re here to help your family thrive!

Senior Associate

Editors

Faith Wismer

Sarah Brickens

THANK YOU!

Focus on the Family provides this magazine and

other resources through the generosity of friends

like you. FocusOnTheFamily.ca/Donate

Subscribe to get this magazine!

FocusOnTheFamily.ca/Magazine

Focus on the Family magazine August/September

2025, Vol. 10, No. 4 ISSN 2471-5921, © 2025 Focus

on the Family. All rights reserved. Published by Focus

on the Family, a nonprofi t organization recognized for

tax-deductible giving by the federal government.

Focus on the Family is a federally registered

trademark of Focus on the Family.

To notify us of an address change or to contact

Focus on the Family Canada: 1-800-661-9800;

19946 80A Ave, Langley, BC, V2Y 0J8; info@fotf.ca

Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated,

are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English

Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a

publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV

Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted

in any publication made available to the public by a

Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be

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4

AUG / SEPT 2025

Jean-Paul Beran, MA

President of Focus on the Family Canada

JOSH YONG

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:

Focus on the Family Canada, 19946 80A Avenue,

Langley, BC V2Y 0J8; 800-661-9800; info@fotf.ca;

GST# 10684 5969 RT0001

Printed in Canada.

Paper manufactured on Vancouver Island.

MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT

Highlighting one of the

many ministries of Focus

on the Family Canada

A brand new podcast from Focus on the

Family Canada

WE’RE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE the launch of

The Thriving Family—Focus on the Family Canada’s brand

new podcast, where faith, family and culture intersect!

In season one, host and Focus on the Family Canada

president Jean-Paul Beran dives into one of the most

requested topics we hear from families across the country:

communication and conflict.

You’ll discover why communication matters so deeply in

every relationship—from marriage and parenting to navigating

hard conversations with the people around us.

Tune in to hear:

• Compelling talks on marriage, parenting and more

• Cross-cultural conversations with ministry leaders

• A firsthand account of a marriage brought back from the

brink of divorce

Every uniquely Canadian episode is ad-free thanks to our

generous donors. You can find The Thriving Family everywhere

you get your podcasts—be sure to subscribe so you

never miss an episode.

Even better, download our free Focus on the Family

Canada app to stay up to date and find additional resources.

Turn to pages

19 and 24 for a

sneak peek of

the podcast!

ISTOCK - FOTOSTORM

Listen to The Thriving Family podcast today.

FocusOnTheFamily.ca/Podcast

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 5

OFF THE SHELF

FIND THESE

BOOKS AND MORE AT

Shop.FocusOnTheFamily.ca

BOARD BOOKS

God Bless This Child

by Max and Denalyn Lucado

Seek and Find:

Old Testament Bible Stories

by Sarah Parker

What Will You Teach Me?

by Adam Griffin

PICTURE BOOKS

Can I Sit Here?

by Heather Thompson Day

and London Marie Day

Harriet Hurry-Up and the

Oh-So-Slow Day!

by Allia Zobel Nolan

Where Is Sheep 100?

by Susie Crosby

Back-to-School Reads

KIDS WILL SOON be looking for good books to read, pencil-and-paper

activities for fun and journals to organize their thoughts and schedules—

whether they’re homeschooled or learn in a traditional classroom. As a

parent, you’re likely looking for solid material to help them grow in their

faith. Check out our list and read about the godly inspiration one of these

authors had as she wrote her book.

“As a kindergarten teacher, I am reminded daily that children need to feel

seen and valued. They often struggle with wanting to be first and waiting

for adult attention. Where Is Sheep 100? is a story about curious, impatient

Cobie based on the parable of the lost sheep. I wrote it to help kids learn

fun ways to count to 100 and, more importantly, to help them understand

how much each one of them matters to Jesus.”

—Susie Crosby

FOR KIDS

God With Us

by Matt Mikalatos

Bible Infographics for

Kids Activity Book

by Harvest House Publishers

Hand Lettering God's Word

for Girls

by Jenny Highsmith

Beneath the Swirling Sky

by Carolyn Leiloglou

JOURNALS FOR TEENS

Everyday Creativity

by Jena Holliday

Sit and Savor Journal

by Heather Holleman

FOR OLDER TEENS

In My Own Way

Book No. 8 in the

“Riverbend Friends” series

by Kathy Buchanan

The Daughter of Rome

by Angela Hunt

Even in Darkness

Book No. 5 in the

“High Water” series

by Tim Shoemaker

ILLUSTRATIONX - LUIZA LAFFITTE

6

AUG / SEPT 2025

Parenting

“IN PARENTING, YOU ARE SHAPING

ANOTHER HUMAN BEING WHILE

ALSO BEING SIGNIFICANTLY

SHAPED ALONG THE WAY. THERE

ARE MOMENTS OF GROWTH FOR

BOTH YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN.”

— DR. DANNY HUERTA,

VICE PRESIDENT OF PARENTING & YOUTH

AT FOCUS ON THE FAMILY, TAKEN FROM

SEVEN TRAITS OF EFFECTIVE PARENTING

ADOBE STOCK - ACTIONGP


PARENTING / AGE & STAGE

0-3

years

Little Ears and Public Praise

“How many children do you have?” the clerk

questioned.

Holding the baby and gesturing toward my

toddler, who was twirling in circles a few feet away,

I replied, “I have two children, the baby and Seth,

who is 2-and-a-half.”

Eyeing my dizzy firstborn, now sprawled on the

floor, the clerk raised her eyebrow and retorted,

“You must have your hands full!”

“Seth is my big helper. I couldn’t do it without him!”

I answered.

Later that afternoon, without being reminded,

Seth put his toys in the toy box while saying, “I am

Mommy’s big helper; I am Mommy’s big helper.”

I had not realized he was listening to my earlier

conversation. His response prompted me to praise

him in the presence of others more often.

—Sue Heimer

Kiddie Calendar

Confused by our family’s schedule, my

3-year-old often asked, “What do we do

today?” To help her understand, I made

a simple calendar each week.

I divided a sheet of paper into seven

sections labeled with the days of the week.

Then I drew simple pictures: our babysitter

Hannah for three mornings a week,

grocery store on Thursday, Daddy at home

on Saturday, church every Sunday. I taped

the calendar to the wall at her eye level and

explained each picture.

The little illustrations helped her visualize

our household routine.

Nursery Biter

—Jenny Schermerhorn

My son couldn’t walk, but he could bite his

friends. The nursery caregiver smiled to soften

the words as she told me.

I was able to show my toddler appropriate

behavior by asking to sit in the nursery to

observe his interactions, removing him when

he was aggressive during play. I also firmly

explained why biting is inappropriate and

allowed him to rejoin the group after a timeout

. And when my child exhibited kindness

toward others, I praised him for his positive

actions.

—Julie Scudder Dearyan

STEVE BJORKMAN / FOTF - CRISTY GINN

8

AUG / SEPT 2025

AGE & STAGE / PARENTING

Reading Games

When my twin boys began learning

to read, I discovered that

success came more slowly for

some kids than for others.

Here’s what helped us:

Auditory games. We practiced

rhyming words, as well as words

that begin with the same sound.

In one fun rhyming game, I would

point to a body part and ask my

boys to name it and come up with

a rhyming word.

Memorization. After learning the

alphabet in order, we memorized

a scrambled version using the beat

of a metronome. My sons learned

to say common alphabet sounds,

on beat and in random order.

—Marianne Hering

ADOBE STOCK - HAAS/PEOPLEIMAGES.COM / STEVE BJORKMAN

SIBLING SUPPORT

While I typically stay out of my children’s squabbles to let them work

out their disagreements, I inevitably repeat the same litany: “Your sister

or brother is your very best friend. We are a family. It is your job to

defend one another against the world, not tear each other down. If

a dispute takes place, it should be in defense of one another. Do you

understand?”

They didn’t. Or at least I didn’t think so.

You can imagine my surprise when at the first parent/teacher conference

their teacher raved about how well my children got along. “It is

obvious they love each other very much. They’re always standing up for

each other on the playground and encouraging one another in class.”

My effort to instill in my children a respect for one another was fruitful.

Their loving actions spoke louder than words.

—Jamie Driggers

Loudly

Loving Others

I encourage my son, Foster, to

share Jesus with others by

employing his strengths.

For example, on the way to

school, I might say, “Foster, you

make friends easily. Is there anyone

in your class who is shy?”

I challenge him to look for people

who seem timid or lonely

and be their friend because

I know that’s easy for him.

He’s also musical and often sings

praise songs at the top of his voice.

I make gentle suggestions about

when and with whom he might

share a new song. “Don’t you think

Joey would like that song? Why

don’t you teach it to him at recess?”

I follow up after school by

asking him about these opportunities.

By using his God-given

strengths, Foster is learning to

confidently and boldly share

Christ’s love with others.

—Renae Green



TACO PALS

While reading an article in a cooking magazine, my son Jacob

was inspired to launch “Taco Tuesdays.” With our permission, he

offered a standing invitation to his friends: Come over for a taco

dinner every week. Because the meal was always at the same time

and place, his busy friends could join us whenever their schedules

allowed—no RSVP required. And since tacos are simple to make,

Jacob could prepare them himself.

We saw this as an opportunity for our son to learn hospitality,

and as parents, we enjoyed getting to know some of his friends

better. These encounters also offered a way for the parents in the

neighborhood to learn each other’s names and become better

acquainted.

Soon the kids who were coming over on Tuesdays brought their

own side dishes or desserts to share. And Jacob led the group of

tweens in a simple prayer of thanks before every meal.

—Alexandra Lutz

Wake Up!

Every night before bed, my son

and I read and pray together.

Then I give my standard encouragement

to wake up on time,

and he makes sure his alarm

is set.

When I hear it go off at 7 a.m.,

I wait about 15 minutes. If he

doesn’t get up on his own, I play

cheerleader by enthusiastically

announcing the beginning of

another day. If he remains in

bed, I turn into an amateur opera

singer and bellow songs, such as

the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

He gets up to stop the noise.

When the alarm sounds the

morning following one of these

songfests, he is much more

likely to get up without my

help and far more willing to

learn the fine trait of personal

responsibility.

—Jennifer Hoggatt

Car Talk

When I complained that my tween daughter didn’t share much of her life

with me anymore, a friend gave me this pearl of wisdom: “If you want to

know what’s going on in your child’s life, always offer to drive.”

I took her advice, and from the front seat of the car, I found a doorway

into the life of my daughter. I had the opportunity to get to know a little

about her friends and their upbringing, find out who the boy of the week

was, and hear firsthand what these kids were facing and struggling with.

I was enlightened and often surprised about the topics of the day, and it

all happened without me asking a single question.

—Beth K. Fortune

ISTOCK PHOTO - FG TRADE LATIN / STEVE BJORKMAN

10

AUG / SEPT 2025


Beyond One-

Word Answers

Three types of conversations

to have with your teens

BY DR. DANNY HUERTA

13-18

STEVE BJORKMAN

MY DESIRE WAS TO HAVE ongoing conversations

with my teens, so I regularly asked about their interests.

Since I counsel parents who also want to go deeper than

daily exchanges, calendar logistics and one-word answers—

“good,” “fine,” “yeah”—I knew I had to be intentional.

But the one touchpoint my middle-school daughter and

I had—that she chose to relentlessly pursue—was aerial

acrobatics. I remember thinking, I have nothing to add, and

I don’t have any interest in it. I didn’t even know how to

maintain an ongoing conversation with her about it.

Conversing with teens is an art that requires practice and

growth, and these talks don’t just happen. To start, realize

there are three types of conversations: practical, emotional

and social.

Practical

Logical, how-to and businesslike

Practical conversations facilitate how

things get done and how problems are

solved. They may center on issues, chores,

schedules or homework. Of course, teens

aren’t always ready to jump into these

straightforward conversations, so you can

start with a social conversation before a

task-oriented talk.

Here are a few ways to respond in a

practical conversation:

• “It seems like it’s been hard for you to

handle your responsibilities. What do

you think you need to adjust? How can

I help?”

• “This is a good time to . . . (vacuum, wash

the dishes, clean).”

• “I think I understand. Can I throw in a

couple of ideas as you figure this out?”

To foster dialogue, you might say things

like, “It seems like . . .” or “I’ve observed . . .”

to express your point of view without polarizing

the conversation. Then, you can add

more structured directions and opinions.

Remind your teen of his or her responsibilities,

but avoid saying, “Can you please . . .

(wash the dishes, vacuum, pick up)?”

Responsibilities require reminders with

agreed-on consequences, but they’re not

requests since they aren’t optional.



Emotional

Sentimental, personal and experiential

Teens process their world through an emotional lens.

Their desire is to feel a sense of belonging, worth,

competence and autonomy. So actively listen to your

teen’s feelings, even if the conversation seems a little

disjointed. Validate his or her experience before

entering the discussion with curiosity. The goal is

to help teens develop awareness and make sense

of their perception, even as their world expands

through demands, social opportunities, stresses,

fears, distractions, temptations, freedoms, insecurities,

pressures and unknowns.

Here are a few ways to respond in an emotional

conversation:

• “How are you feeling about that?”

• “It sounds like you had a (tough, exciting, stressful,

boring) day.”

Be patient as you get to know your teen’s deeper

thoughts. You don’t need to fix your son’s or daughter’s

problem; instead, let your teen make mistakes,

face challenges and work through adversity. But

be available and gentle as you talk. Your teen’s personality

and maturity will dictate whether he or

she is ready for a practical insight or needs a social

conversation.

Social

Relaxed, sometimes superficial

Teens long to be heard and known. Social conversations

allow parents and kids to get to know each other better.

The main way of doing this is to show interest in what your

teens are interested in.

That’s what I did with my daughter and her aerial

acrobatics. As she watched videos and spoke about the different

techniques, I watched and listened. Then I chose to

become excited with her.

Here are a few ways to respond in a social conversation:

• “Tell me more about . . . ”

• “I noticed you’re into . . . (music, shoes, clothes, hair);

what do you like about . . .”

Social conversations can happen anywhere, but are

great for car rides, dinnertime, walks and hikes. Remember,

interests come and go, but your relationship with your

child remains for a lifetime.

Connecting

The key is to understand when to have each type of

conversation with your teen—right time, right place.

Diving into a social conversation when your son or

daughter is hurting may not work. Having a deep

emotional conversation when your teen’s friends

are near may be the wrong place. As you prepare

to have a deeper conversation with your teen, also

consider his or her mood. Then patiently give it a

try. You don’t have to be perfect, just intentional.

Dr. Danny Huerta is vice president of Parenting & Youth at Focus

on the Family.

Find more great articles

for parenting teens!

FocusOnTheFamily.ca/ParentingTeens

STEVE BJORKMAN

12

AUG / SEPT 2025


19+

Don’t Waste Your

Waiting

Trust God’s direction and

timing with your adult kids

BY MARK VROEGOP

STEVE BJORKMAN

OUR SON AND HIS WIFE gathered

with other medical school graduates for

an event called “Match Day.” After four

years of grueling study, high-pressure

exams and interviews, our son had

submitted his top choices, residency

administrators ranked their students

and a mysterious algorithm matched

graduates with their residency programs.

The contents of my son’s Match Day

envelope would set the course of his life

and the lives of our daughter-in-law and

granddaughter for the next three to six

years. Walking with them through this

challenging process required thoughtfully

balancing support with prayerfully

entrusting to the Lord our desires, fears

and hopes.

Adult children face critical “gap

moments” throughout their lives. They

may encounter career changes, continuing

education, church transitions, medical issues,

pregnancy challenges or parenting struggles.

And waiting is often part of the mix.

As parents of adult children, instead

of wasting these moments, we can

model the importance of waiting

on the Lord.

Rehearse God’s character

My wife and I often comment

that parenting adult children is

surprisingly stressful. Even when

our kids ask for our advice or

give us regular updates about

decisions and challenges, we

must work hard not to worry

or become fearful. Our go-to

strategy is to rehearse God’s

character, turning our trust

toward the One who knows

everything and has a plan for

our kids. When we don’t know

what’s going to happen with

them, we can remind ourselves

of what’s true about God.

Psalm 27:1 is one of my

favorite Bible verses for these

situations: “The Lord is my

light and my salvation. . . .

Th e L ord is the stronghold

of my life.” My wife and

I even have a list of “God

is . . .” statements to

reorient our hearts

when anxiety knocks

at the door.



We can model the importance

of waiting on the Lord.

Yield expectations

Another challenge for parents of

adult children: expectations. While

waiting, my wife and I have found it

helpful to ask, “What expectations

do we have for this moment in our

kids’ lives?” In the case of our son’s

residency, we hoped for a match

with a local hospital. We wanted to

stay actively involved with his family.

But interpreting information

through our hopes makes waiting

hard. As my wife and I prayerfully

released our desires to God about

his residency, we were able to support

our son and daughter-in-law

without pressuring them.

Over the years, my wife and I

have witnessed how perfect God’s

plans are. Since these moments are

easy to forget, we’ve found it helpful

to remind each other of God’s

trustworthiness. Mapping His faithfulness

involves reflecting on times

in our lives when anxiety and confusion

prevailed, and instead,

choosing to celebrate what God did.

When the intensity of the moment

causes us to forget this, remembering

God’s past faithfulness

emboldens our faith.

Choose to wait

The Scriptures exhort us to wait on

the Lord, but we often think of waiting

as something to endure. Shifting

our attitude allows us to prayerfully

seek God’s will and timing when we

might be inclined to worry. Rather

than pumping our kids for information

or throwing anxiety-filled

questions their way, we can choose

to wait on the Lord.

When our son and daughter-inlaw

gathered their families for a

residency reveal party, no one knew

the contents of the Match Day envelope

they had opened hours earlier.

We studied their faces and emotions,

looking for clues. The presence of

streamers, balloons and a cake only

increased the anticipation.

When they finally revealed the

answer, everyone cheered. They

were staying! Our son’s residency

was with a local hospital. With tears

of joy and a deep sense of gratitude,

we celebrated the answer we’d

been praying for. But we would have

celebrated no matter where God

chose to place them next, because

we’d chosen to wait well.

Instead of wasting time being

anxious, we yielded our desire for

control to God and chose to trust

Him with the outcome. Through it

all, we learned that the promise of

Scripture is true: “They who wait for

the Lord shall renew their strength”

(Isaiah 40:31).

Mark Vroegop is the president of The Gospel

Coalition and the author of Dark Clouds,

Deep Mercy and Waiting Isn’t a Waste.

WAITING ISN’T A WASTE

by Mark Vroegop

Trust God as your adult kids are

challenged with uncertainty.


STEVE BJORKMAN

14

AUG / SEPT 2025


CREDIT ADOBE STOCK TK

- SEVENTYFOUR / STEVE BJORKMAN

Before the Hustle and Bustle

Getting ready for a new school year can feel overwhelming.

Something we do to help out is take the grandkids shopping

for school supplies and their first-day-of-school outfit.

We’ll make a day of it and go out for lunch or dinner afterward.

It is something we all look forward to, and it gives

our kids time to focus on other things that need to be done

before the hustle and bustle of a new school year.

—Shirley Yutzy with Clemente Maldonado

BACK-TO-

SCHOOL BAG

I’m a year-round bargain shopper. I often pick

up clearance items for my granddaughter and

set them aside for future gift-giving. Last year,

before school started, I put together a “backto-school

bag” for her containing some of the

items I’d collected throughout the year. The

bag had a new outfit, a pair of shoes, crayons

and other school supplies, books, puzzles

and a learning game. While it didn’t cover all

her back-to-school needs, the items did help

my daughter with some of the preparation,

and my granddaughter loved them. It was a

fun but inexpensive way to celebrate the new

school year.

—Diane Stark



Patched

With Love

My daughter-in-law receives outgrown

girls clothes from a friend.

Some of these well-used garments

need tender loving care

to be ready for the new school

year. I fix them up for my granddaughters

to wear by tracing

heart shapes onto similar fabric

to make patches for the wornout

clothing. Then I zig-zag them

into place. I usually choose contrasting

textures and colors from

good, worn T-shirts or other tops.

The girls love to see the latest

patches on the outfits they wear

to school.

—Alice Burnett

FACETIME TUTOR

I love technology, except when I don’t know how to use it. A few years

ago, my daughter-in-law was homeschooling our oldest grandson.

I had taught all five of my sons to read when I had homeschooled my

own kids, so I offered to help Colton with his reading.

The only hiccup was that we lived several states away. This is where the

beauty of technology came in. I taught him to read using a physical phonics

program via FaceTime. He could ask questions; I could answer. I could

hear his responses and was able to correct his mistakes as he made them.

As a bonus, I was able to chat and interact with my daughter-in-law and

granddaughters daily.

It was such a blessing to use technology to help my son and his

family in this way as they educated their child at home.

—Tammy Miller

GRANDPARENTING WITH

JOY AND PURPOSE

Growing your relationship

with your grandchildren

passes on a legacy of faith. This free, sixpart

video series will help you make the

most of this important role.

FocusOnTheFamily.ca/

GrandparentingWithJoy

ADOBE STOCK - SPYRAKOT, AKKA-PHOTOS FOR YOU / STEVE BJORKMAN

16

AUG / SEPT 2025

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DANIELLE STRINGER / ADOBE STOCK - GEDEL

18

AUG / SEPT 2025

PODCAST / PARENTING

Interview with

Andrew Montgomery

Encouraging Others by Showing

Vulnerability

SEASON 1, EPISODE 12 WITH GUEST ANDREW MONTGOMERY

Born and raised in Canada, Andrew Montgomery

has served at Focus on the Family in the U.S. for the

last two decades. During a recent visit to Focus on

the Family Canada’s head offi ce in his hometown

of Langley, BC, Andrew sat down with President

Jean-Paul Beran to talk about cultural differences,

leading with vulnerability, and how important it is to

help families thrive in our very busy world.

CREDIT TK

ANDREW: I’ll never forget: I was

a young dad traveling for work at a

conference and there was an executive

from Focus on the Family who

was there. He came up to me in the

hallway and just asked how I was

doing, how the kids were.

And I was expressing some of

the challenges. We had five kids,

Check out this NEW podcast

featuring authentic Canadian

conversations. This space—

where faith, family and

culture intersect—is available

on Focus on the Family

Canada’s free mobile app,

on our website and wherever

you get your podcasts!

probably at that time under the

age of 12, and so life was pretty

busy. We were stressed-out young

parents, and this gentleman, who

I had a great deal of respect for—

who spoke a lot about marriage

and parenting and how to have a

healthy, thriving family—talked to

me about the challenges he had

faced and how he resonated with

what I was sharing.

And I tell you, as a young dad

who felt this guilt and shame over

the way that I sometimes showed

up in the home—yelling at the children,

getting upset over what I look

back now at as not that big of a deal,

but at the time, felt like a really big

deal—I look back to that conversation

and what an encouragement it

was to me.

It just gave me permission not to

stay where I was at, but to grow as

a husband, as a father—to know I

wasn’t alone.

Listen to Andrew’s full

interview on Focus on the

Family Canada’s new podcast,



Podcast

Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube



PARENTING / MEDIA

For reviews of these and other titles,

visit PluggedIn.com, Focus on the Family’s

media review and discernment website.

ADOLESCENTS &

SOCIAL WITHDRAWAL

BY ADAM HOLZ

DESPITE THE POWER of social media to connect us with

others, many people feel isolated. A percentage of people feel

so deeply disconnected from others that they no longer want to

leave their homes.

In Japan, people coined the term hikikomori in the late 1980s

to describe those—mostly boys and men between the ages of

15 and 34—who demonstrate this extreme expression of social

withdrawal. Some struggled with actual psychiatric disorders

such as depression, social anxiety and symptoms of avoidant

personality disorder.

As the so-called “hikikomori syndrome” has become more

displayed across the globe, researchers say that internet access

enables these tendencies, establishing a way for some to work

remotely, as well as offering continual online distraction. With

parents to provide food and shelter, those caught in such a cycle

may never have to leave the house or learn how to function relationally

in the broader world.

Whatever popular label it bears, at the root of the matter, experts

believe, is a crisis in confidence. Strugglers feel overwhelmed by

the pressures and expectations of the “real world” in terms of vocation

and relationships. Crippling insecurity, in part, bars them from

taking the healthy risks needed to forge ahead in life.

Not every moody teen boy playing games will develop this pattern.

But if you notice your son withdrawing further into relational

isolation, you can come alongside him by giving him space to talk

about his anxieties and insecurities. Boosting your son’s confidence

will pave the way for reconnection with the broader world.

Adam Holz is an editor for Plugged In and a contributing author to Becoming a

Screen-Savvy Family: How to navigate a media-saturated world—and why we should.

Focus on the Family Canada offers a one-time, complimentary

counseling consultation from a Christian perspective. To reach

a registered counselor, visit our website or call 1-800-661-9800

weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Pacific time.

FocusOnTheFamily.ca/Counseling

FREAKIER FRIDAY

Do fortune cookies still hold magical

powers in this sequel to Disney’s tale

of a mother/daughter identity swap?

SCHEDULED RELEASE:

AUG. 8

LIGHT OF

THE WORLD

Does this animated

look at Jesus’ life stay

true to the apostle

John’s account?

SCHEDULED RELEASE:

SEPT. 5

THE BAD GUYS 2

Will the crew of

reformed thieves be

compelled to return

to criminal behavior?

SCHEDULED RELEASE:

AUG. 1

ADOBE STOCK - CARA DOLAN / IMDB

20

AUG / SEPT 2025

Marriage

“YOU CAN ONLY CHANGE

YOURSELF; YOU CAN’T

CHANGE YOUR SPOUSE.

REALISTIC IS YOUR GOAL,

NOT PERFECTIONISTIC.”

— DR. GREG SMALLEY,

VICE PRESIDENT OF MARRIAGE

AT FOCUS ON THE FAMILY,

TAKEN FROM CRAZY LITTLE

THING CALLED MARRIAGE

ADOBE STOCK - ТАТЬЯНА ГРИГОРЬЕВА


MARRIAGE / COMMUNICATION

When Couples

Stop Talking

Healthy conversations

are more than covering

the daily to-dos

BY DR. GREG SMALLEY

I ONCE HEARD a story about

a retired business executive and

his wife. One evening, the wife

called friends to ask what they

were doing.

“Oh,” said the other wife, “we’re

just talking and drinking tea.” The

executive’s wife hung up the

phone. “They’re drinking tea and

talking,” she told her husband.

“Why don’t we ever do that?”

The executive said, “So, make us

some tea.” Soon they sat with their

freshly brewed tea, stirring the tea

and staring at each other. And stirring.

And staring.

LISTEN NOW!

Check out Focus on the Family

Canada’s new podcast featuring

authentic Canadian conversations.

In season one, you’ll learn more about

the topic of communication and

conflict to help you as a spouse,

as a parent, and as a friend.


“Call them back,” the executive

barked, “and find out what they’re

talking about!”

Many husbands and wives

may find that this older couple’s

dilemma sounds far too familiar.

Good communication is the lifeblood

of a successful marriage, so

when spouses stop talking at a

deep level, their marriage slowly

begins to die. After all, a marriage

will only be as good as a couple’s

communication.

One of the more sinister reasons

husbands and wives quit

communicating is that they

“administrate” marriage almost

to death. They’re often caught in

a destructive pattern where they

spend their limited time together

talking about work, the budget,

children, chores and so on. The

conversations become “transactional.”

Certainly there’s a need to

discuss household management,

but couples cannot allow “business

meetings” to dominate their

conversations.

Administrative meetings often

lead to arguments, and couples

become trained to think that

“talking” will lead to conflict and

disconnection. The problem is that

husbands and wives unintentionally

condition each other to feel that

it’s neither fun nor safe to engage in

conversation. So they stop talking.

The key to positive communication

is found in knowing and being

known. This means that you’re

interested in and curious about the

person you married. Listen when

your spouse talks. Ask open-ended

questions. Your spouse desperately

wants to be known.

The other side of that coin is to

let your spouse know what’s going

on in your life. Volunteer information

about your deepest thoughts,

beliefs, feelings, hopes and desires.

Good communication requires

an active effort, and you can build a

strong marriage if you strive to both

know and be known.

Dr. Greg Smalley is the vice president of Marriage

& Family Formation at Focus on the Family.

CREDIT ADOBE STOCK TK - YUMMYBUUM

22

AUG / SEPT 2025

How can we

serve others

as a couple?

What dream would

you like to pursue?

What is our

greatest strength

as a couple?

10 conversation

starters to get to know

your spouse better

What’s one thing

you appreciate

most about

our relationship?

How can we

keep the spirit

of discovery and

adventure alive

in our marriage?

DEVELOPING a regular habit

of asking good questions, ones

that encourage your spouse to

open his or her heart to you, will

help you get to know your mate

all over again. Here are some

conversation starters to get to the

heart of your husband’s or wife’s

feelings, desires and hopes.

—G.S.

How do you

feel God has

guided

our marriage?

What’s a memory

that makes

you smile?

ADOBE STOCK - WEEDEZIGN / FOTF

What’s a dream

vacation you

would like to take

together?

What steps can

we take to stay

connected in our

marriage?

How can

I support you this

coming week?


MARRIAGE / PODCAST

How to Respond When a Friend

Reveals Tension in Their Marriage

Supporting Your Friend by Supporting

Their Marriage

SEASON 1, EPISODE 4

Picture this. You and your friend are hanging out,

talking like you always do. Suddenly, your friend is

divulging serious stuff about their marriage. So what

should you say—and what should you not say—if you

want to help your friend? This episode of The Thriving

Family podcast by Focus on the Family Canada will

help guide you through this relational tightrope.

COUNSELORS are trained

to remain objective when hearing

complaints from one spouse

against the other. But for a sympathetic

friend without the benefit of

similar training, staying neutral in

the face of our friend’s or close relative’s

distress can be surprisingly

difficult. All the same, remaining

objective is crucial.

Check out this NEW podcast

featuring authentic Canadian

conversations. This space—

where faith, family and

culture intersect—is available

on Focus on the Family

Canada’s free mobile app,

on our website and wherever

you get your podcasts!


Our role, as a concerned friend,

is to support our friend by supporting

their marriage. It’s not our role

to figure out who is right and who is

wrong. We’re only hearing one side

of the story, and even then, we’re

only hearing what our friend is

choosing to reveal.

Even within families, the instinctive

urge to console and protect a

wounded daughter, son, sister

or brother by siding against the

in-law is especially strong. Leaving

one spouse feeling alienated and

maligned, however, just throws one

more tricky hurdle in a couple’s

path to reconciliation. Remember

that even the supported spouse will

very likely feel insulted by negative

attitudes toward their partner.

Consider this story:

“It’s been years since my divorce,

but my mom is still bad-talking

my ex. And it still hurts, because

on some level, she’s criticizing my

choice of the person I married, and

the father of my children.”

Listen to this full episode

of Focus on the Family

Canada’s new podcast,



Podcast

Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube

Please note this advice does not apply to situations of abuse, infidelity or addiction. If you

suspect any of these are present, do not try to support your friend alone—they urgently

need professional help. For additional support, call Focus on the Family Canada’s care and

counseling team at 1.800.661.9800 or visit FocusOnTheFamily.ca/Counseling.

CREDIT TK

INTENTIONALITY / MARRIAGE

(and Liking)

Loving Your Spouse

Four key touchpoints to strengthen your marriage

BY ARLENE PELLICANE

ADOBE STOCK - LA FAMIGLIA

HOW I FELT became clear on

Day 2 of a rugged wilderness trail

my husband, James, and I were

hiking. As I struggled to catch

my breath, I said, “If I could pay

$5,000 to be airlifted from this

spot, I would do it.” And I meant

it! Yes, every time I go on a backpacking

trip with James, I reach

the same conclusion: I will

never do this again. James, however,

leaves the mountains saying,

“Let’s put this on the calendar for

next year!”

When the trail is flat and the view

is breathtaking, I enjoy these outdoor

adventures. But when the

path is uphill and rocky, I want to

tap out, except that it doesn’t make

sense to quit hiking when I’m miles

away from my destination.

Backpacking has taught me

valuable lessons about marriage

(and how to go to the bathroom

when there are no facilities).

Thankfully, my marriage has

included some beautiful and easy

paths. But I’ve learned not to give

up on my spouse during the hard

patches, the times of conflict and

misunderstandings. Instead, I try

to see the big picture by looking

up from the trail.

Whether you’re in a hard season

of marriage or on an easy path,

you get to make choices about

hiking together on this journey

called life. Here are four key decisions

that James and I have made

together to help us continue loving

(and liking) each other in our

day-to-day interactions.


MARRIAGE / INTENTIONALITY

Play by the rules

What if marriage could be infinitely

easier by following a few rules

instead of relying on feelings? The

first would be to establish a healthy

habit, what I call the “power hour.”

Eating a meal together every day

has given James and me relational

power for the past 26 years. After

all, every day we must eat, and that

is a daily cue to connect.

James, who’s spontaneous, once

interrupted our power hour when

we were newlyweds. He invited

a new neighbor named Walter to

(#1)

dinner, even though he knew I was

a novice (read: really terrible) cook

who only had two chicken breasts

to serve.

Though we haven’t had any more

Walter incidents, there are other

factors that potentially interrupted

our family mealtime: jam-packed

schedules, differing work hours

and kids’ activities. But eating

together regularly as a couple (and

with kids if you have kids at home)

is a routine that helps protect us

from drifting apart.

(#2)

Give thanks

I try not to let a single day pass

without thinking, Thank You, God,

for my spouse. This sounds simple

but can be hard to practice—especially

when James is annoying me.

Let’s think of the children of Israel

for a minute. Yes, the Israelites

made a golden calf. Yes, they committed

idolatry. But a sin they

repeatedly stumbled over was an

ungrateful spirit. Their attitude was:

“God, You’re leading us with a cloud

by day and fire by night, but it’s not

enough. We’re sick of all this manna,

and we’re sick of eating quail.” They

were ungrateful, and that was one of

the reasons they weren’t allowed to

enter the Promised Land.

In our marriages, we can be like

the children of Israel. Initially, we

are grateful, over the moon in fact,

to find a mate. But as the years

pass, we might allow nagging and

complaining to fester in our hearts,

which can cause us to tire of our

spouse and his or her ways.

So instead of focusing on what

your spouse isn’t, focus on what he

or she is. If your spouse was able to

get out of bed and get to work, you

can be thankful for his or her good

health, provision or self-discipline.

Look for things to be thankful for,

and you’ll find them.

ADOBE STOCK - BULLRUN

26

AUG / SEPT 2025

INTENTIONALITY / MARRIAGE

CALENDAR OF THANKS

Jot down ways you appreciate your

husband or wife. Download your

own 30-day calendar today!

FocusOnTheFamily.ca/Magazine

giving

thanks to

spouse

(#3)

ADOBE STOCK - JACOB LUN, ANTONIODIAZ

Serve your spouse

We humans can be transactional.

We have thoughts like, Well, you

didn’t do that thing for me, so I’m

not going to do that other thing for

you. Or sometimes, we mistakenly

think that if we serve our spouse,

then he or she will walk all over us.

But the Gospel shows us a far better

way to respond: giving to others

because Jesus gave to us, even when

we don’t deserve it. Please keep in

mind that this is in the context of a

relationship that’s free from abuse.

If you’re constantly wondering

what your husband or wife has done

for you today, then you might not

find much satisfaction or joy in your

relationship. In your disappointment

over how your expectations

haven’t been met, you may become

bitter. But if instead, when you

frame your perspective to be, “How

can I serve you today?” you will

experience satisfaction and joy.

Here’s a small example. Both

James and I work from home, so

serving him can be as simple as

refilling his water glass during the

day. It’s a tiny gesture that shows

I’m noticing him and that I want to

be helpful. It’s life-giving to think

of someone else besides yourself—

plus, it feels far better to proactively

do something kind for your spouse

instead of waiting for him or her to

serve you. And often I’ve found that

when I serve without expectation, I

am served by him in return in unexpected

ways.


MARRIAGE / INTENTIONALITY

Strengthen

your marriage with

(#4)

This gives me

renewed hope to

breathe new life

into our marriage.

LISTEN NOW!

Join Jim Daly and Arlene Pellicane

as they discuss how four key

decisions can help you and your

spouse strengthen your marriage.

Take fun seriously

You may think you don’t have time

for fun anymore—that giggling or

goofing off was just for your dating

or pre-kid years—but you would

be wrong.

It’s essential, not just a bonus, to

have fun together. When your kids

leave the house, you don’t want

to be left staring blankly at each

other. You want to laugh together

and enjoy the empty nest. If you

don’t plan or value fun together in

a marriage now, your relationship

can become a drag, boring or just

plain miserable. So enjoying each

other is really a key component of

not just staying together but also

enjoying the ride (and the backpacking

trail).

FocusOnTheFamily.ca/Radio

James, of course, thinks camping

is fun. Though I sometimes

disagree, even I must admit that

there’s something intimately wonderful

about being in the middle

of nowhere together, taking in gorgeous

views and playing games at

night inside a tent. I, on the other

hand, like amusement parks. I’m

not sure James would admit to liking

amusement parks, but to his

credit, he will stand in line with

me. And that is worth the price

of admission.

Arlene Pellicane is the host of the “Happy

Home” podcast and is a speaker and author

of Making Marriage Easier: How to love (and

like) your spouse for life.

ADOBE STOCK - MILJAN ŽIVKOVIĆ

Start your

journey

CREDIT TK - TK

28

AUG / SEPT 2025

JourneyToUs.ca

CONNECTION / MARRIAGE

Let’s Make Time for Us

Tips for staying connected during

the back-to-school season

BY THE FOCUS ON THE FAMILY MARRIAGE TEAM

THE SCHOOL YEAR means lots of exciting opportunities and

challenges for your family. But even though much of that growth happens

with your kids, it doesn’t mean your marriage needs to go on the back

burner. The school year can be a time of growth for you and your spouse too.

Carve out alone time

The return to consistent bedtimes for your

kids means more alone time for you and

your spouse—and less stressful mornings

for both of you. Remember to ease into the

new schedule gradually rather than the

night before classes begin.

Play to your strengths

Before school starts, talk about the daily

routine. Take notes on which tasks may be

better suited to each other’s strengths and

schedules. The more details you decide

up front, the less stress your relationship

will feel when issues come up.

CREDIT - TK

ADOBE STOCK - YAKOBCHUK OLENA, NEO

Connect daily

Before you part ways for the day and

when you’re together in the evening,

make it a point to talk about something

other than the day’s routine. News, funny

stories from the day, memories—it’s

important to connect daily as a couple,

not just as a couple of parents.

Have a date night

Flip through the school calendar and

plan a few date nights with your spouse.

Book a babysitter and check out a few

new restaurants.

Cut out the list on

the next page and

choose to do one

act each day for

your spouse.


MARRIAGE / CONNECTION

Today I will . . .

GROW IN

UNITY

keep my commitment

to my marriage.

seek to learn something

new about my

spouse.

be a team player in my

marriage.

ACT IN

LOVE

leave a handwritten note

for my spouse to find.

do something out

of character that my

spouse could appreciate.

practice intentional

kindness to my spouse.

give more than I take.

CHOOSE

JOY

lighten up and laugh.

give the benefit of the

doubt and not believe

the worst about my

spouse.

acknowledge that

attitude is a choice.

be content where

I am.

GUARD MY

TONGUE

put my spouse’s needs

above my own.

resist the urge to

control my spouse.

be careful of what

I say.

truly listen instead of

only thinking about

what I’ll say next.

pause before reacting

in a harsh way.

let my spouse have

the last word.

CONNECT

EMOTIONALLY

keep my heart open toward

my spouse.

honor and cherish my

spouse.

be the last to let go

of our embrace.

ADOBE STOCK - YAKOBCHUK OLENA, JOLLY J, NEO

keep private matters

between us.

take a timeout to

avoid hurting my

spouse with my

words.

be the first to

apologize.

give my spouse my

undivided attention.

be my spouse’s

best friend.

DATE-NIGHT IDEAS

Find lots of fun and

inexpensive ideas for your

next date night.


DateNightIdeas

30

AUG / SEPT 2025

CHERISHING / MARRIAGE

LAWS OF LOVE

Cherishing your spouse through action

BY DAVE WILLIS

ILLUSTRATIONS BY HAO HAO

AS A 9-TO 12-YEAR-OLD,

I had an unusual afterschool activity:

I hung out with dying people.

I know it sounds morbid, but I’m

quite thankful for the way my mom,

a hospice nurse, often let me tag

along while she lovingly cared for

patients. You know why? Because

spending time with people in the

last stages of life on this earth led

to some incredibly illuminating

conversations.

The dying never wished they had

a better golf score or earned more

money. Instead, they taught me

that every significant joy a person

has during their lives is rooted in

relationships with God and loved

ones. Conversely, every significant

end-of-life regret is also rooted in

relationships—a time they failed

someone they loved, didn’t give or

seek forgiveness or didn’t prioritize

God until the clock had almost

run out.

I’m thankful I heard those hard

truths at a young age, because they

demonstrated the importance of

showing love in everyday relationships.

Those hospice patients lived

out the reality that love is not a

feeling but an action rooted in selflessness—putting

others ahead of

self-interest.

One of those everyday relationships

where we can show that

action-oriented love—perhaps the

most important one—is marriage,

the cornerstone of commitment in

God-established human relationships.

With the lessons from those

hospice patients in the back of my

mind, here are some “laws of love”

I’m determined to follow in my

relationship with Ashley, my wife

of 24 years.


MARRIAGE / CHERISHING

LISTEN NOW!

Dave Willis urges listeners

to strengthen their relationships

using Christ’s love as a model.

He offers advice for every type

of relationship from strengthening

your marriage to managing

difficult relationships at work.

FocusOnTheFamily.ca/Radio

Love requires

commitment

Our culture seems to define love

as little more than a feeling, but

feelings are fickle. Love based

on feelings alone isn’t love at all.

Throughout Scripture, God reveals

His love to us through action and

commitment. He also calls us to

love one another. Without real commitment,

there isn’t real love.

In Psalm 15:4, the Bible gives us a

list of attributes that followers of the

Lord should embody. One attribute

that jumps off that list to me is that

the faithful “keep their promises

even when it hurts” (NLT).

If we believe everything we see

in romantic comedies, love should

always be easy. If you marry the

“right person,” there will never be

struggles or hardships. The truth is

that the sacred covenant of marital

love is a “for better or for worse, in

sickness and in health, for richer

or for poorer” commitment. Those

vows are most important in the

32

AUG / SEPT 2025

CHERISHING / MARRIAGE

HOPE RESTORED® INTENSIVES CAN HELP.

Our multi-day counseling intensives give you personalized, biblically

based support. Whatever you’re going through—infidelity, intimacy

issues, communication breakdowns —you and your spouse can start your

journey toward healing.

A STEP TOWARD HOPE.

Learn more at HopeRestoredCanada.ca

or call 1-833-999-4673

moments when they are most

difficult to keep.

This timeless principle does

not mean that you must endure

or enable abusive behavior in

marriage. Real love should never

cause that kind of intentional hurt.

But we do need to remember that

love, especially marital love, isn’t

always easy. Nothing worthwhile

is easy, but love is the most worthwhile

of commitments—even

when it’s difficult.

Love selflessly sacrifices

Love is most powerful when it costs

us something. That’s really the main

distinction between God’s and the

world’s disparate views of relationships,

which sees every relationship

as mere networking: “You do something

for me, and I’ll do something

for you, but I’m not going to do

more for you than you did for me.”

It’s transactional.

My father had two silver dollars

his grandmother had given him.

They held immense personal significance,

as they were the only

gift from her he still owned. But

when we ran out of milk once in

my childhood, causing my mom to

cry, he spent those two silver dollars

at the grocery store without a

second thought.

What a powerful example of selflessness,

of giving up something we

love for someone we love more.

Love speaks truth

People can be very good about

throwing daggers at each other

under the guise of love. But just

speaking facts apart from love, with

cruelty in your voice, is not speaking

truth. And it’s certainly not

speaking love if you say, “I don’t

want to hurt your feelings, but. . . .”

Ashley and I often say, “You’ve

got to tell each other the truth. But

you never, ever, get to be cruel.” As

it says in Ephesians 4:2, we’re to

conduct ourselves “with all humility

and gentleness, with patience,

bearing with one another in love.”

What that means practically is to be

your loved one’s biggest encourager,

not her biggest critic.

If we choose to lead with encouragement

and always speak the truth

through that lens of being a cheerleader

then we’ll be on the right

track in our marriages.


MARRIAGE / CHERISHING

THE SEVEN LAWS OF LOVE

by Dave Willis

The author offers the ins and outs of

relationships—with your spouse, your

children, your friends and co-workers—

using practical, applicable examples

and guiding principles that demonstrate

what a life of love looks like.


Love offers grace

A lack of forgiveness in marriage

can be incredibly distracting

and annoying, like mosquitoes.

Furthermore, a lack of grace captures

our thoughts and focus and

takes away our peace—because

all we’re thinking about are

these tiny little things swarming

around us. But we can put

something on that will repel

unforgiveness.

Love is the repellent. When

we choose to love, it softens our

hearts and allows us to let go

of grudges, embracing peace

instead. It’s both an unforgiveness

and misery repellant. God

doesn’t want His kids walking

around holding grudges against

one another—because when you

do, you’re the one who suffers.

Love lives forever

My friend Jamie, a police officer, was once called to the home of an elderly

couple. The wife had just passed away, and her husband was tenderly stroking

her hair. He began telling Jamie stories about his wife and the love they

had for each other, their family and Jesus. “Sixty-six years just wasn’t enough

time to spend together,” the tearful man said.

That really struck my friend. As Jamie looked around the house and saw

pictures documenting decades of living a life of love, he thought, Man, this

couple has done it right.

Because of Jesus, love isn’t a story with a happy ending; love is a story without

an ending. It’s one that can continue into eternity because of Him. When

we cross from this life into eternity, I believe the arms that created the universe

are going to wrap themselves around us. In that moment, God is not

going to praise us for how much money we made or how many degrees we

earned. I think the first thing He’s going to say to us is, “When I hold you close,

I can feel My Son’s heart. I can feel a heart of love beating inside of you.”

In the end, that’s all that really matters. And if we’ll operate our marriages

with that kind of perspective, it will keep us on the path God has for us, until

it’s time to go home forever.

Dave Willis is a teaching pastor and has been involved in ministry for two decades. Dave and his wife,

Ashley, are conference speakers, have authored more than a dozen books and host the “Marriage on

the Line” podcast.

34

AUG / SEPT 2025

Faith

“I HAVE SAID THESE

THINGS TO YOU,

THAT IN ME YOU MAY

HAVE PEACE. IN THE

WORLD YOU WILL

HAVE TRIBULATION.

BUT TAKE HEART;

I HAVE OVERCOME

THE WORLD.”

—JOHN 16:33

ADOBE STOCK - MASON


FAITH / BIBLICAL LITERACY

WISDOM BOOKS OF

SCRIPTURE

What these Old Testament books teach us

about engaging with life’s big questions

BY SUBBY SZTERSZKY

WHO IS GOD? Where did we come from?

Why are we here? What is the meaning of life?

How should we live? Why is there suffering and

evil in the world? What is our destiny?

People have grappled with these questions for

as long as there have been people. All the world’s

religions and philosophies have sought to answer

them, and the Bible has a lot to say about them.

In fact, these kinds of questions are a special

concern of five books at the center of the Old

Testament—Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes

and Song of Songs—known collectively as the

Wisdom Books or Wisdom Literature.

The answers these books offer are rarely direct.

They don’t deal in the bare facts and simple closure

modern readers crave. Instead, they speak

through poetry, dialogue, aphorism, memoir and

song. Their lyrical style invites the reader to carefully

weigh and meditate on what they’re reading.

That can be a big ask, especially in a culture

with an ever-shrinking attention span. But if we

approach these books prayerfully, with respect

for their context, genre and literary conventions,

they offer us wisdom from God

to discover over a lifetime—even in

shapes that might surprise us.

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AUG / SEPT 2025

BIBLICAL LITERACY / FAITH

ENVATO ELEMENTS - THE_MYRO

Job

The book of Job presents something of a paradox.

The basic story is familiar, at least in outline form,

but the book itself is strangely opaque to contemporary

readers. Most of it is made up of a lengthy

series of dialogues between Job and his friends as

they debate about sin, suffering and the justice of

God. The dialogues are in the form of repetitive,

stylized poetry, with the speakers going in circles

and talking past each other but never arriving at a

satisfactory answer to the problem of suffering.

It’s not the sort of material that lends itself easily

to sermon outlines or Bible studies. Instead, it

forces the reader to engage with the cumulative

effect of the dialogues, to enter into the frustration

of the characters, and to experience the futility of

human wisdom to answer life’s big questions.

The book is built around three structural tentpoles

that provide the key to its meaning. It

begins with the scene in heaven, in which God

allows Satan to afflict Job in various ways. In

other words, suffering and evil only exist in the

world to the degree that God allows.

In the middle of the book, a hymn to wisdom

interrupts the dialogues. Using imagery from

nature, it extols the mysteries and elusiveness

of wisdom, how it resides solely with God and is

impossible for humans to discover, apart from

God revealing it to them.

At the end, God confronts Job with a series of

rhetorical questions about the wonders of creation:

stars and constellations, the earth and

the oceans, seasons and weather patterns, birds

and animals. The message is clear—God’s wisdom

and power, reflected in His created order, is

beyond human comprehension. Neither Job nor

the reader are told why God allows suffering but

are called to trust Him. As Tim Keller observes, “If

you have a God great and transcendent enough

to be mad at because He hasn’t stopped evil and

suffering in the world, then you have (at the same

moment) a God great and transcendent enough

to have good reasons for allowing it to continue

that you can’t know.”

Proverbs

Unlike Job’s long, lyrical dialogues, the Proverbs

are popular with contemporary believers for their

short sayings that offer practical advice in bitesized

chunks. Yet there’s a danger of reading them

in a way that misses the forest for the trees.

The collection of sayings that form the bulk

of the book aren’t tossed together randomly.

They’re carefully arranged for effect, or according

to various themes. Some of them are repeated or

subtly modified throughout the collection. Others

are placed to illustrate parallel, complementary

or contrasting ideas. Back-to-back verses instruct

the reader to answer a fool according to his folly,

and also not to do so (Proverbs 26:4-5). Both

statements are true, and both need to be read in

context. Some of the sayings are easy to understand,

while others use ancient imagery that can

be a challenge to decipher.

The Proverbs operate on two levels: They offer

individual facets of practical wisdom, but they’re

also meant to be read carefully and meditatively

for their cumulative effect. Most of all, they must

not be viewed as ironclad promises or guarantees,

but rather as general principles for how life works.

The other Wisdom Books bear this out—the righteous

do suffer, the wicked do prosper, and life

can be a perplexing enigma.

Nevertheless, a wise and sovereign God is in

control. The book declares this from the outset

(Proverbs 1:7; 3:5-6).

The book of Proverbs isn’t just a set of brief

axioms. It begins and ends with sustained meditations

on wisdom, in the form of instructions from

a royal father (or mother) to their son. Female

voices and imagery dominate these sections. The

first nine chapters offer a metaphorical contrast

between Lady Wisdom and the woman of folly,

urging the son to embrace the former and avoid

the latter. The final chapter presents the ideal

wise woman of noble character. In the patriarchal

world of the Ancient Near East, this association of

wisdom with the feminine is a remarkable testament

to God’s high regard for women.


FAITH / BIBLICAL LITERACY

Ecclesiastes

With its existential musings on the meaning of

life, or lack of same, Ecclesiastes reflects a surprisingly

modern mindset. King Solomon, writing his

memoirs as an old man, has explored everything

life has to offer. He’s lived wisely and foolishly,

thrown himself into work and pleasure, checked

off several bucket lists’ worth of experiences.

His conclusion? From a strictly human perspective

(life “under the sun”), everything is

meaningless, a passing vapor without purpose.

Whether good or bad, everyone dies the same

way, just like the animals. There’s nothing new

or original in the world. Everything that has been,

will be again. And long after you’re gone, no one

will remember you or anything you ever did.

It’s not the sunniest of books, but there are

shards of light in the existential gloom. For everything

there’s a season, and a time for every matter

under heaven. Enjoy the simple things, eating

and drinking, family and work, as good gifts from

God. And remember, God is in heaven, and you’re

not. The bottom line: Fear God and keep His commands

because that’s the whole duty of humanity.

Beyond all this, Solomon offers the key for

grappling with the mystery of existence, and for

understanding what drives the hopes, fears and

longings of life in an uncertain world: “[God]

has made everything beautiful in its time. Also,

he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that

he cannot find out what God has done from the

beginning to the end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Humans are unique in all of creation. We

appreciate beauty, reflect on the meaning of

life, and yearn for something beyond it that’s out

of our reach. In so doing, we demonstrate that

we’re divine image bearers, fashioned by God

with value and purpose. As C.S. Lewis argued:

“Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction

for those desires exists. . . . If I find in

myself a desire which no experience in this world

can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that

I was made for another world.”

Song of Songs

If there’s one book of the Bible that gives fits to

commentators, whether Jewish or Christian, it’s

the Song of Songs. The book is notable for never

mentioning God, as well as for its zestful language

about sexual desire between young King

Solomon and his new bride. Some writers tend to

reduce it to a symbol for the relationship between

God and His people, or between Christ and His

church, while glossing over all the suggestive

metaphors. One can almost feel the pages of their

commentaries blushing.

Such an approach does little justice to the

poetic imagery of the Song, with its gardens and

fruits and spices, its longings in the middle of the

night. The poetry must be allowed to sing with its

own voice, as a ringing endorsement of sexuality

as a beautiful gift from God.

At the same time, it’s not a carte blanche for

sexual expression without boundaries. The context

is limited to the relationship between the

bride and the groom. This is underscored three

times by the bride’s warning to her unmarried

friends: “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases”

(Song of Songs 2:7; 3:5; 8:4).

The Song of Songs can also be read as a metaphor

for the love between God and His people,

between Christ and His church. But this is not a

cool platonic love, the way some people of faith

have pictured it. According to the Song, it’s a

bond marked by the highest

levels of intimacy, passion

and delight.

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BIBLICAL LITERACY TK / FAITH

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Psalms

Compared to the other Wisdom Books, Psalms

scarcely needs an introduction, even for casual

readers of the Bible. It’s one of the most familiar

and beloved books in all of Scripture, with good

reason. The evocative poetry delights the heart,

reflects the entire range of human experience,

and inspires wonder and worship toward God.

Throughout history, Psalms has been the songbook

of praise and worship for both the Jewish

and Christian faith communities.

Psalm 23 is arguably the best-known chapter

in the entire Bible, and several others are perennial

favorites among people of faith. However, not

all the Psalms are as well-known or well-loved.

In many cases, their content and imagery can be

confusing or even upsetting to modern sensibilities.

This can lead believers to create their own

psalter within the psalter, embracing the Psalms

that resonate with them and ignoring the ones

that don’t.

The truth is that the Psalms are far more diverse

than contemporary readers expect. There are

songs of praise and trust in God as well as bitter

curses leveled at enemies; expressions of unbridled

joy and near despair; contrasts between the

way of wisdom and folly and questions about why

the righteous suffer; reflections on the beauties of

creation and on the brevity of human life; ancient

sayings of the wise and words of advice from a

king to his son; and meditations on the wisdom

and sovereignty of God as well as prophecies

about God’s promised Messiah.

The Psalms contain enough delight and challenge

for a lifetime of discovery. Taken as a whole,

they illustrate the truth that God’s ways and

thoughts are as high above ours as the heavens

are above the earth. All of their poetry, bright and

dark, is designed to call the people of God to marvel

at the mysteries of our Lord and to worship

Him alone. After all, as Tim Keller notes, “If your

god never disagrees with you, you might just be

worshiping an idealized version of yourself.”

Ancient wisdom for modern people

The five Wisdom Books form an eclectic anthology that

sits at the positional and emotional heart of the Old

Testament. The collection covers the broadest spectrum of

human feeling, from the timeless comfort of “The Lord is

my shepherd” to the existential despair of “Meaningless!

Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” Along the way,

these books engage all of the biggest questions that people

have been grappling with since the beginning.

But they don’t do it in the direct way modern readers

are most comfortable with. They employ literary

conventions and cultural ideas that are often alien to contemporary

minds. Their allusive style and lyrical structure

invite the reader to think carefully, to weigh and chew

and ponder these sayings of the wise. It’s a genre—or

rather a cluster of subgenres—designed to speak to the

heart and imagination as much as to the mind.

It’s essential not to force these books into modern categories,

whether literary, cultural, or even theological.

Wisdom Literature is not meant to be picked apart for

facts that can be neatly filed away. It speaks in its own

voice and builds its cumulative effect over a lifetime of

study and meditation.

With prayer and illumination from the Holy Spirit, these

books can impart their ancient wisdom to modern people

of faith, addressing our timeless questions and speaking

to the longings of our heart in ways we least expect. That’s

a lot like how God in general loves to work—the God who

inspired these writings in the first place.

Subby Szterszky is the managing editor of Focus on Faith and Culture, an

e-newsletter produced by Focus on the Family Canada.

© 2021 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.


FAITH / IN THE STUDIO

Seeing

Through

Our Culture

to Find God

AN INTERVIEW WITH

ALEXANDRA KUYKENDALL

JIM DALY hosted Alexandra

Kuykendall in the studio to talk

about offering God’s goodness and

love while interacting with others.

They also discussed ways to find

truth and moral courage during

tough moments.

ALEXANDRA: My friends Rachel

and James were experiencing secondary

infertility after initially being

able to conceive. While they were

open to adoption, they decided to

become foster parents. Two boys

were placed in their home, but they

Alexandra Kuykendall is a popular speaker, podcaster and writer for moms.

soon realized the boys’ parents were

working hard to create a safe home

for the kids to return.

Rachel and James had a broader

understanding of how complicated

the situation was. They started

cheering for the birth parents; they

knew that if these parents could get

sober and do the things they needed

to do, it was in the best interest of

the boys to return home.

Rachel and James went in with

an expected end to the foster care

story—adoption—but realized they

were part of a bigger story that God

had orchestrated. “We decided to

give up the good for the sake of the

best,” Rachel said. Their idea of

adopting kids was good, but supporting

the kids’ parents was best

for the kids.

God calls us to love Him fully

and to love our neighbors as ourselves

(Mark 12:30-31). If we carry

this posture of humility, loving well

and reflecting the fruit of the Spirit

(Galatians 5:22-23), people will see

God’s goodness manifested in our

lives not because of us, but because

of Him working in us.

Listen to Alexandra

Kuykendall’s full interview

with Jim Daly on the app.


Mobile

Jim Daly is a husband, father, author and speaker. He is the president of Focus on the Family in

the U.S. and the host of its daily show, which is heard by more than 6 million listeners a week on

nearly 2,000 stations across the U.S. The show has been honored as Program of the Year by the

National Religious Broadcasters.

CREDIT TK

KERITH RETREATS / FAITH

A SPIRITUAL

RENEWAL

How Focus on the Family

Canada’s Kerith Retreats

made all the difference

for one burned out

pastor and his wife

BY CAMRYN MUNDAY

CREDIT TK ADOBESTOCK - TUNEDIN

WHEN TOM* found himself

with blood pressure so high that it

landed him in the intensive care

unit, he knew he had to address

some serious issues with the way

he was going about his daily life. As

a husband, father and senior pastor

of a large church, Tom was used to

caring for others while he was running

on empty.

“It was the high blood pressure

that kind of signaled there was a

problem,” Tom says, recalling how

his doctor’s recovery plan improved

his health but could not fully heal

him. “It didn’t take long for me

to realize that my problem was

not just physical. . . . As my health

started getting better, I realized that

I was emotionally, mentally and

spiritually at a dead end.”

Tom’s burnout had him questioning

whether God wanted him

to continue as a ministry leader. He

was also wondering how he could

rebuild a healthy relationship with

his wife, Abigail, in light of some

unresolved issues within their marriage.

“I wasn’t really sure about

ministry and I wasn’t honestly even

really sure about our marriage,” he

explains, “not that I would ever give

up on it.” Keeping all of these negative

thoughts to himself while trying

to lead his church, Tom felt like no

one noticed just how deeply his

struggles were affecting him. “I was

pretty far down emotionally and

spiritually,” he recalls.

It quickly become clear that

Tom needed to care for these deep

inner wounds. He had neglected

to address his burnout for so long,

and with the heavy demands of

pastoral ministry and other life

challenges, he had no idea where

to find the type of rest that his soul

needed. On one of his hardest days,


FAITH / KERITH RETREATS

Tom received an email from a good

friend. The friend wanted to pay for

Tom and Abigail to attend Focus on

the Family Canada’s Kerith Retreats.

An invitation to rest

“It was a divine intervention,” Tom

says, remembering the moment he

opened that email and discovered

that there was one spot still available

at the next upcoming Kerith

Retreat. Even better, the opening

was at the retreat center closest to

Tom’s home. God made a way for

Tom and Abigail’s registration to go

through almost immediately, and

before they knew it, they were on

their way to the lodge.

“We both had mixed feelings,” Tom

admits. He and Abigail had already

been to counseling to help them

handle their interpersonal challenges

and had been to another

retreat, so they had good reason to

be doubtful about whether Kerith

Retreats could even make a difference.

“We were kind of like, OK,

hopefully this works, because we’ve

been through this before. . . . I’ll trust

that there is something good that’s

going to come from this,” Tom says.

Upon arrival at their Kerith

Retreat, Tom and Abigail were welcomed

by the program director

couple. During their week-long stay,

they enjoyed group teaching sessions

with the other attendees, being

served their meals and snacks, and

getting some much-needed rest

time in their resort-style suite. All of

these activities were set against the

stunning backdrop of a secluded

lodge—a sanctuary that encouraged

Tom and Abigail to fully retreat from

the world and press pause on the

unending demands of ministry life.

Throughout the week, Tom and

Abigail also experienced personalized

care from the program directors,

who had spent many years serving

in ministry and could understand

the stressors that had contributed to

Tom’s burnout and hospitalization.

Their familiarity with the highs and

lows of ministry leadership and their

commitment to walking alongside

Tom and Abigail were incredibly

impactful. “[The program directors]

were just marvelous,” Tom says. “I

think we were [their] problem couple—in

that we came with the

heaviest hearts and the most complex

issues. They were very patient

and kind, however, and it looks like

we’ve made a lifelong friendship. . . .

We’ve been able to kind of keep a

connection with them.”

The road to renewal

Slowly but surely, God began to heal

Tom’s burnout and bind up his emotional

wounds. For the first time in

a long while, Tom and Abigail were

surrounded by a community of people

who understood their struggles

as ministry leaders and were able

to empathize with all that they had

been through. “It was also really good

to meet other people in pastoral

ministry and to exchange stories of

joy and sorrow,” Tom says, recalling

mealtime conversations that he and

Abigail shared with the other guests.

Using the gentle guidance of

the Kerith program directors, God

reminded Tom that it is crucial to

observe a weekly Sabbath—a day

of rest to honor God. “Sabbath was

new to us, so that’s been life changing,”

Tom says. “The first thing we

did is we decided that we would

implement a Sabbath and that

would be from Friday at supper

until Saturday supper.” Tom and

Abigail also agreed to set a boundary

for their Sabbath day that would

nurture their emotional healing as

a couple: no difficult conversations

were allowed during that 24 hours.

“The best thing about Sabbath for

me . . . to have one day of the week

with no hard conversations—just

those things that bring me joy and

honor my Creator,” Tom says.

The program directors also encouraged

Tom to find a spiritual mentor

so that he could have someone he

trusted checking in on him. “Every

pastor needs a pastor,” Tom remembers

learning on his Kerith Retreat.

As a result of the program directors

prompting, Tom got connected with

an individual who could fill this role

in his life: “I met last week with a

local retired pastor . . . who is willing

to offer me spiritual friendship, direction

and accountability.” Suddenly,

for the first time in nearly 20 years,

Tom had a pastor figure in his life. “I

found somebody here in the community

now who is not connected to

our denomination, but who loves me

[and] checks in on me once or twice

a month . . . . That’s been life changing,”

he says.

Although Kerith Retreats are not

marriage retreats and are open to

both couples and singles in ministry,

Tom and Abigail’s Kerith Retreat

kick-started a reconciliation in

their marriage. Tom’s marriage and

ministry troubles were closely interconnected.

His unhealthy practices

within his pastoral role were fanning

the flames that burned within

his marriage, threatening to make

the tensions at home even worse. “I

didn’t really enjoy being at home,”

42 AUG / SEP 2025

KERITH RETREATS / FAITH

ADOBESTOCK - TUNEDIN

Tom reflects. “I had gotten very

used to just escaping to work. . . .

My wife and I also had some of

these residual issues that had never

really gotten dealt with.”

During his Kerith Retreat, the program

directors urged Tom to make

his marriage a priority—even over

his ministry. He learned to differentiate

between what is vital and

what is urgent. “In ministry, everything

is going to be urgent, or you at

least see everything as being urgent,”

Tom remembers them explaining.

“That’s going to deceive you as far as

your prioritization is concerned. . . .

I began to understand that first and

foremost was my marriage. It was

vital. Even before that was my relationship

with God,” Tom says. The

Lord was at work, changing Tom’s

heart, helping him to order the

things he loved correctly—his ministry

third, his wife and family second,

and God first.

After some meaningful discussions

with the program directors, Tom

and Abigail felt equipped to address

the damage ministry leadership had

wrought on their relationship. Many

of the exercises administered at the

retreat are designed to explore personality

types. As a married couple,

Tom and Abigail found these exercises

helpful for addressing how

personality differences can impact

both ministry and marriage. “It just

helped us to respect one another—

understand each other better,” Tom

says. “We’re opposites, so it was good

for a marriage.”

Returning to real life

However, Tom was skeptical about

whether his Kerith Retreat experience

would produce long-term

change in his life. As he and Abigail

pulled out of the lodge’s driveway to

travel home, he began to question

what the future held. “How is this

going to figure into real life?” Tom

remembers asking. “Are we going to

be able to retain this? Is this going to

translate into real life?” It was hard

for the couple not to believe that they

would simply fall back into old patterns

upon returning home.

Instead, the opposite happened:

God continued to bless Tom and

Abigail through the retreat, long after

it was over. “I am able to say now

that any fears I might have had coming

out of Kerith—that this was just

going to be another one of those

mountaintop experiences that really

didn’t amount to much in real life—

that those have all turned out to be

unfounded,” he says.

Tom recalls a period of time following

his Kerith Retreat when he

and Abigail underwent an unbelievable

spiritual revival as a couple: “For

seven days every morning, we went

to the beach at sunrise, did devotions

together, and we’ve not quit that

since. We do that every morning now.

Not for vocational reasons, but just

to get connected,” he says. “Kerith is

what kind of opened the door and

then started my spiritual renewal.”

Equipped for the

challenges ahead

Today, Tom’s life is not exempt from

hardship, nor is his marriage, but his

time at Kerith Retreats has made a

difference in his ability to navigate

the ups and downs. It helped him to

press pause on ministry and refocus

on his family and his faith. It taught

him not to ignore the stressors that

once led him to burnout and hospitalization.

Best of all, it allowed

him to be open to experiencing the

kind of spiritual renewal that only

God can usher. “Kerith really kind of

opened my eyes. Spiritual renewal

. . . paved the way to my emotional

and my mental renewal as well,” he

says. “There are still challenging

times ahead, but I have a new joy

and a new excitement as I contemplate

being a better family guy and a

better pastor.”

Focus on the Family Canada

asked Tom if he would recommend

Kerith Retreats for other ministry

leaders who need spiritual renewal.

His answer couldn’t be clearer: “I’d

send them there in a heartbeat.”

*Names have been changed

Camryn Munday is an associate editor at

Focus on the Family Canada.

© 2025 Focus on the Family (Canada)

Association. All rights reserved.

“There are still challenging times ahead,

but I have a new joy and a new excitement

as I contemplate being a better family guy

and a better pastor.” —Tom


for ministry leaders

come away and be still

Kerith Ministry Leader Retreats provide a quiet sanctuary

where pastors, missionaries and parachurch leaders can receive from God and

deepen their connection with Him. This space gives ministry couples and singles

the unique opportunity to care for their spiritual life and vocational calling.

ALBERTA MANITOBA ONTARIO

Learn more about these seven-day retreats

in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario!

KerithRetreats.ca

1.800.550.5655

IMPACT / FAITH

YOUR STORIES

Adventures

in Odyssey

God has used Odyssey to bring me

closer to my sons. We play, sit and ride

in the car together listening to Odyssey.

It’s amazing to have episodes that

describe a period of our life. Thank

you for helping us all grow up.

—an Odyssey parent

Since 1987, Focus

on the Family’s

award-winning audio

drama, Adventures in

Odyssey, has captured

the imaginations of

children of all ages.

I live with four brothers, so after a hard

and annoying day, I listen to Odyssey

and I always feel better. So thank you,

Adventures in Odyssey!

—an Odyssey fan

Robby Bruce,

who voices

Buck, in the

studio

ILLUSTRATIONS BY GARY LOCKE

CREDIT TK

ADVENTURES IN

ODYSSEY CLUB

The Adventures in Odyssey Club helps

the whole family grow closer to Jesus

and to each other. Club membership

includes unlimited, on-demand,

streaming access to more than 1,000

Adventures in Odyssey episodes—

plus daily devotions, fun videos,

faith-building activities and more!

Join today and give your kids a

virtual home away from home.

AdventuresInOdyssey.com/

Your-Great-Adventure

Buck

I love Adventures in Odyssey,

and I could listen to it all

day. My favorite character is

Buck because I am adopted

too, and we both have amazing

families! I love hearing his

relationship with Jules and

hearing his story. The writers

are amazing people to think

of us kids. So, thank you to

the actors and everyone.

You changed my life.

—an Odyssey fan

We’d love to hear how a Focus on

the Family magazine, show or event

has impacted you and your family.

FocusOnTheFamily.ca/ShareYourStory


MY CANADIAN FAMILY

Playground fun

Kenzo —Manitoba

Charlotte, Noah, Vivian, Micah —Alberta

Lauren —Manitoba

Maggie and Maddie —Alberta

SEND US

YOUR PHOTOS!

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR

CHILD READING OR PLAYING

WITH INSECTS

Email photos to info@fotf.ca.

Include your child’s name and age,

and type “story time” or “insects”

in the subject line.*

* Largest photo possible. Professional photos are not accepted.

ADOBE STOCK - LIMOLIDA STUDIO

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A podcast

where faith,

f amily and

culture

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Hosted by

Focus on the

Family Canada

President

Jean-Paul Beran

Healthy relationships take work

Conflict is part of every relationship—

but how we handle it shapes the heart

of a thriving family.

Join us for season one of The Thriving ENFamily

for honest truths and faith-filled conversations

to help you navigate tension and love your

family well.

47

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Focus on the Family Magazine - August 2025/September 2025

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