Focus on the Family Magazine

The Truth About

Becoming One

APR / MAY 2026

JESUS’

LONGEST

PRAYER

WALKER HAYES

HOW FAITH, FAMILY & A FRIEND

RESHAPED HIS PRIORITIES

Page 36

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Faith

18

13

APR / MAY 2026

In Every Issue

4 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

5 MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT

6 OFF THE SHELF

8 AGE & STAGE

20 MEMORY VERSE

46 MY CANADIAN FAMILY

42

LIGHTSTOCK - KEVINCARDEN / ADOBE STOCK - GALINA, SEVENTYFOUR, IPOPBA, ICONICBESTIARY

Parenting

11 DO YOUR BOYS

RESPECT GIRLS?

Have the courage to talk

about tough topics with

your sons

by Dave Willis

13 WHEN YOUR ADULT

KIDS REJECT GOD

It’s never too late to point

them to Jesus

by Rob Rienow

18 STRIKING A CHORD

The key to stronger bonds

with your grandkids

by Beverly Johnson

21 CHOOSING LIFE AND HOPE

AFTER A DEVASTATING

PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS

The Thriving Family

podcast

An interview with Christin Rosa

22 FINDING THE GOOD IN

TODAY’S ENTERTAINMENT

by Bob Hoose

Marriage

24 OVERCOMING GRIDLOCK IN

THE MIDST OF CONFLICT

The Thriving Family

podcast

25 THE TRUTH ABOUT

BECOMING ONE

And a misconception

I had about biblical

unity in marriage

by Robert Paul with

Dr. Greg Smalley

30 BELIEVING THE BEST

Replace negative thoughts

about your spouse with

positive ones

by Lauren Blaschke

32 IS CONFLICT HEALTHY

IN MARRIAGE?

That depends on whether

you’re peacemaking or

peacekeeping

by Karen Leann Murphy

25

Faith

36 WALKER HAYES

How faith, family

and a friend reshaped

his priorities

by Benjamin Hawkins

41 THE LIFE-CHANGING POWER

OF FAITHFUL FRIENDSHIPS

In the studio with Jim Daly

An interview with Walker Hayes

and Craig Cooper

42 JESUS’ LONGEST PRAYER

How John 17 shows the

heart of the Gospel

by Subby Szterszky

3

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

The Value of Community

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? Easter is already here! I love this time of year,

even more than Christmas, because while at Christmas we celebrate the

coming of our Savior, at Easter we celebrate the culmination of God’s ultimate

plan to redeem a broken world.

There is still time for you to download our new free Holy Week devotional,

Words From the Cross. This eight-day devotional walks through Jesus’

final words before His death as well as His first words to His friend Mary

outside the empty tomb. (Get your free copy at FocusOnTheFamily.ca/

HolyWeek2026.)

What I love about our Savior is how He meets people where they’re at to

show them love, grace and truth. In this issue of the magazine, we have stories

and articles that show this kind of unconditional love in action. Starting

on page 36, you’ll read Walker Hayes’ incredible story of how friendship

pointed him to Christ. On page 13, you’ll learn how to reach your adult child

who’s rejected God. On page 32, you’ll learn how conflict with your spouse

can be an opportunity for growth.

We all need community, family and friends who can show up in our lives

and lift us up. On that note, did you know April 19-25, 2026, is National

Volunteer Week in Canada? This is a great opportunity to figure out where in

your community you could give back with your God-given skills and talents.

If you’re interested, Focus on the Family Canada also has a growing volunteer

base, and we’d be honored if you would join us! You can learn more

at FocusOnTheFamily.ca/Volunteer.

Jean-Paul Beran, M.A.

President of Focus on the Family Canada

Jean-Paul Beran is the

president of Focus on

the Family Canada.

JOSH YONG

President

Jim Daly

Chief Focus Operating Canada

O President ffi c e r

Jean-Paul Ken Windebank Beran

Chief Director Operating of Content

O Operations ffi c e r

Ken Kevin Windebank Shirin

Director Editor-in-Chief of Content

Jesse Operations Florea

Kevin Shirin

Senior Editorial

Director

Editor-in-Chief

Jesse

Sheila

Florea

Seifert

Senior Editorial

Copy Chief

Director

Scott DeNicola

Sheila Seifert

Senior Editor Associate

Editor Sarah Brickens

Sarah Brickens

Art Director

Art Director

Sally Dunn

Sally Dunn

Contributing

Designer

Julie Designer Vieux

Julie Vieux

Cover Photography

Cover

Bella Ravella

Photography

Annabelle Ainlay

Administrative

Administrative

Assistant

Assistant Lennis Pugh

Lennis Pugh

Circulation

Circulation

Erika Gaulke

Erika Gaulke

Copy

Managing

Chief

Editor

Focus Canada

Andrea

Scott DeNicola

Gutierrez

Contributors

Laurisha Blackstock

Managing Editor Amanda Regan

THANK Andrea Gutierrez YOU! Subby Szterszky

Amy Van Veen

Focus on the Family provides this magazine and

other resources through the generosity of friends

like THANK you. FocusOnTheFamily.com/Donation

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4

APR / MAY 2026

MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT

MINISTRY

spotlight

Highlighting one of

the many ministries

of Focus on the

Family Canada

EXPLORE OUR NEW WEBSITE AT FOCUSONTHEFAMILY.CA

IN OUR DIGITAL WORLD, websites are the

main channel for connecting with, resourcing

and caring for people. That’s why we’ve recently

undergone a major transformation to our core

website, FocusOnTheFamily.ca.

We’ve reorganized our library of online resources

and updated the look to ensure you and your family

can get the help you need when you need it most.

Whether you’re looking for an episode of the

podcast talking about grief, an article that helps

you connect with your wayward teen, a booklet

that explores difficult areas of mental health or an

upcoming event to strengthen your marriage, we

want you to be able to find what you need quickly

and efficiently.

Our new website helps us better achieve our

mission to strengthen Canadian families through

education and support based on Christian principles,

and our vision to see every family transformed by

love, vibrant in faith and enduring in hope.

Explore our new and improved website.

FocusOnTheFamily.ca

What’s

new?

Overall new

refreshing and

modern design

Improved

search function

New section

with resources

for pastors and

ministry leaders

Clear and

dedicated library

of all articles,

podcasts, video

series and digital

booklets

FOTF CANADA

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 5

OFF THE SHELF

FIND THESE

BOOKS AND MORE.

Shop.FocusOnTheFamily.ca

Spring Reads

THE DAYS GROW WARMER, causing seedlings to push through the hardened

soil. Many people sweep into spring cleaning—out with the old and in with the new—

and begin a fresh pattern of habits. During this time of welcome change, why not set

up a new reading routine with your family? Get started with our latest list and learn

what inspired two of the authors on it to write their books.

“As Sure As the Sea tells the story of a female diver and the

man who would become Saint Nikolas. The pair cling to

their faith in order to find the courage to protect their fellow

believers amid the Roman Empire’s efforts to eradicate

Christianity. I pray readers come away from this story

the way I did—inspired and emboldened to live lives of

courageous faithfulness in difficult seasons, resting in the

security of God’s love and sovereignty.”

—Jamie Ogle

“I wrote The God Contest after my 5-year-old son came

across kids who believed very different things than he does.

He asked me how we knew that our God was the real God.

I told him the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel and how

God had proved himself there. And how He’d done it again

at the empty tomb. And then I realized—the fire on Mount

Carmel would make for a fantastic illustration! My hope is

that this book is exciting for kids (and parents) to read—but

also that it will give them confidence that the God of the

Bible is real, and good, and worthy of their loyalty.”

—Carl Laferton

BOARD BOOKS

Spring Sings

by Ellie Holcomb

Holy, Holy, Holy

“Hymns for Little Ones” series

by Harvest House Publishers

World of Narnia: The

Lion, the Witch and the

Wardrobe

by C.S. Lewis

Praise God, All Creatures

by Jason G. Duesing

PICTURE BOOKS

The God Contest

by Carl Laferton

Coop Learns He Can

by Sarah Reju

R Is for Risen

by Crystal Bowman and

Teri McKinley

Pippa and the Singing Tree

by Kristyn Getty

KIDS

The Sower’s Secret

Book No 1. in the

“Parable Port” series

by Brock Eastman and Shaun

Stevenson

The Disappearing Seat

Book No. 2 in the

“Elita Brown” series

by Heather Holleman

Friends in Strange Places

Book No. 2 in the “Heroes

on the Home Front Mysteries”

by Nell Branum

The Sapphire Song

Book No. 2 in

“The Sapphire Saga”

by Robert L. Fuller

ADULTS

As Sure As the Sea

by Jamie Ogle

Rescued Heart:

The Story of Sarah

Book No. 1 of

“The Matriarchs” series

by Angela Hunt

The Royal Artisan

Book No. 2 in the

“Queen Esther’s Court” series

by Tessa Afshar

A Song in the Dark

by Kimberley Woodhouse

ADOBE STOCK - PAVEL

6

APR / MAY 2026

Parenting

“WE COMMUNICATE GRACE

TO OUR CHILDREN WHEN

WE ASSURE THEM OF OUR

LOVE FOR THEM.”

—ROB RIENOW

ADOBE STOCK - PEPPA STOCKER

MOTHERING ON EMPTY:

HOW MOMS LIKE YOU FOUND GOD’S JOY

by Kristen Rusch and Ashley Durand

Moms share their stories of motherhood—both the

beauty of their sacred calling and the heart-to-heart

honesty of burnout and disappointment. Be inspired

by stories, devotional-style reflections and truths.

FocusOnTheFamily.com/Mothering


PARENTING / AGE & STAGE

0-3

years

MOMMY’S SCENT

One night after nursing my son Benjamin, I was desperate to put

him back into his crib and get some rest. As usual, he began to cry

as soon as I put him down. But this night I left my arm underneath

him and ever so gently began to pull my other arm out of the sleeve

of my shirt. By the end of my acrobatic act, I had removed my soft

shirt, and it lay gently across Benjamin’s chest as a blanket.

I then swaddled Benjamin in it, first ensuring it didn’t have any

buttons or decorations that could be a choking hazard. He slept

contentedly. Benjamin seemed to find security in the smell of his

mommy being nearby.

—Nicole Grunenwald

From High Chair to Table

A few weeks before we moved our daughter

from her high chair to a seat at the table,

we removed the tray from her high chair

and scooted it to the spot that her future

big-girl chair would occupy. We also gave

her the plate and utensils she would be

using. Then the only difference my daughter

experienced during the actual change was

sitting on a new booster chair. It was a

smooth transition.

—Heidi Braden

Meltdown Mirror

When my son was a toddler, he

occasionally threw tantrums. It

wasn’t until a little girl began

throwing a tantrum in a toy store

that he saw what his behavior

looked like to others. She laid on

the floor wailing, while her arms

and legs beat the air.

Later, I explained, “She’s acting

like this to get what she wants.

This is what you look like when

you throw a tantrum.”

Although my son didn’t say

anything, during a role-playing

game (I was an unruly student,

and he was the teacher), he reprimanded

me by drawing a stick

figure on the blackboard and saying,

“This is what you look like

when you act like that.” And he

was “cured.”

—Carolyn Stonehocker

ADOBE STOCK - TRENDSETTER IMAGES / STEVE BJORKMAN

8

APR / MAY 2026

AGE & STAGE / PARENTING

COLOR-CODED EGGS

For our Easter egg hunt, I assigned the older children to

search for a specific color of egg. Hannah was red; Sydney

was blue. This eliminated the “I-saw-it-first” arguments

and gave younger children equal play. To encourage

teamwork, I hid several larger eggs that my children had

to find together.

—Trish Berg

Know Good Responses

My wife and I wanted our children to know

how to respond when we said “no.” To teach

them, we played a game around the dinner

table. We allowed the children to ask zany

questions, and my wife and I would say “no”

to every question they asked. Their response

had to be, “OK.”

“May I go to the moon?”

“No.”

“OK.”

“May I eat a light bulb?”

“No.”

“OK.”

We then practiced saying “yes” to their

questions. They were to respond with “thank

you.”

“May I eat my broccoli?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”

Just a few hours of practice and a lot of silly

questions later, our kids were trained in how

we expected them to respond.

—Andrew Peterson , a CCM artist and a bestselling author.

ADOBE STOCK - SERENKONATA / STEVE BJORKMAN

The Church Basket

Is there a more frenzied family time than Sunday mornings?

Serving breakfast, grabbing Bibles and searching for

belts or shoes. The ensuing bedlam can cause heated

exchanges and sibling conflict, which is not a calm start to

a morning of worship.

To simplify our pre-church routine, I parked a large,

sturdy basket in the corner of our living room, instructing

my kids to place Sunday items in it when returning

home from church. In went Bibles (which could be easily

retrieved and returned during the week), dress shoes, belts

and other Sunday accessories.

The basket was a success—and topped with a pretty blanket,

no one else knew.

—Karen Ehman

Chore

Treasure

Hunt

When teaching my

son how to sort laundry

or help straighten

up a room, I’d let him

keep any coins “accidentally”

left inside

pockets, under cushions,

etc. This turned

those chores into a

treasure hunt.

—Kathryn Porter



SACRED SUNDAYS

I closed the Bible that lay across my sleeping daughter’s

chest. Despite her best attempts, trying to tackle prayer

and Scripture study at the end of the day was not working.

So we asked the kids to propose solutions for prioritizing

our family’s spiritual growth.

One daughter suggested not turning on any media in

the evening until we’ve read Scripture together. Another

child suggested “sacred Sundays” with nothing else

scheduled. So after church on Sundays, our children had

a chance to talk to us individually about struggles, successes

and questions. We played games, read books and

used media—all with a faith element.

Curbing Name Calling

—Julie Reece-DeMarco

During a card game, my friend’s frustrated daughter called

her brother a hurtful name. My friend brought the game to

a halt and said, “You know the rule—three nice for one bad.”

The daughter slumped in her chair. “But he deserved it.

He’s not playing fair.”

Mom waited patiently until her daughter finally came up

with three nice words to say about her brother.

Before the game resumed, my friend explained, “Acting

in anger never solves a problem. God wants us to act in

love in all situations, even with your brother.”

Soon the incident was forgotten and everyone was

laughing again. My friend’s “three for one” rule helped

restore harmony in her family.

—Jackie Castle

Our Spring Fever Cure

To keep my kids motivated during the final

months of the school year, I’d post a special

calendar that was enhanced with stickers and

color-coded for each child. I highlighted the

holidays, extracurricular activities and events,

such as weekend getaways.

Books that had to be read were scheduled by

dividing the number of pages by the number of

weeks until the due date. They knew how much

to read each week. Long-term projects were

divided the same way.

We kept a pen near the calendar so the

kids could mark off completed tasks and

the days that passed. They enjoyed having

something to work toward and felt a sense

of accomplishment. Before we knew it, we’d

successfully read books and completed

projects—and we were ready for summer.

—Marcy Lytle

ADOBE STOCK -NDABCREATIVITY / STEVE BJORKMAN

10

APR / MAY 2026


13-18

Do Your Boys

Respect Girls?

Have the courage to talk about

tough topics with your sons

BY DAVE WILLIS

STEVE BJORKMAN

OUR 13-YEAR-OLD SON, Cooper, arrived home from

his first day of eighth grade with a question that left my wife

and me nearly speechless: “Do girls like it when boys send

them pictures of their privates?”

Cooper told us that some of the boys on his bus had been

using their phones to take pictures of their genitalia, with a

few boys sending the pictures to friends. Cooper had been

shocked. Do girls really like that?

His mom reassured him, “Girls do not like getting these

pictures. They might laugh, but inside they’ll be disgusted

and may be terrified. Boys should treat girls with respect.

This behavior is both disrespectful and illegal.”

My four sons are growing up in a culture that has experienced

a wake-up call on sexism. They follow the news—

seeing the stories and hearing the chatter online. They come

to me with questions, and I desperately want to get this right.

Here are five truths that I’ve used to help me raise sons who

respect women.

Silence is not golden

If there’s an absence of healthy conversations

about sex and respect, boys will seek answers

online and in locker rooms. The information

they find there often creates more problems than

solutions. Worse, it can create a mindset that

there are certain times when it’s acceptable to

disrespect women. That gradually rewires a boy’s

thinking, harming his future relationships.

As fathers, we must lead our boys in healthy

conversations about sex and respect. This will

help them grow to view women and girls as

coheirs in God’s family and not as commodities

to be exploited. Some conversations may

be uncomfortable, but having the courage to be

transparent and vulnerable can build trust with

your son. It will also help him learn from your

wisdom and experiences.



Having the courage to be

transparent and vulnerable

can build trust with your son.

Be available

Important conversations may be initiated

by our boys at unlikely times and

around unlikely subjects. Don’t avoid

these precious opportunities. A bike ride

or game of basketball often leads to meaningful

conversations. Most boys are more

receptive to talking when it just happens

naturally as a result of activity.

Encourage healthy masculinity

Raising boys who respect girls doesn’t

mean we need to demonize masculinity.

I’m proud to have sons, and I want them to

attain the highest ideals of authentic manhood.

Most males share the same needs for

community and camaraderie. We need to

be intentional about helping our boys find

healthy ways to meet these needs instead

of settling for dangerous, disrespectful

counterfeits.

Walk the talk

Your boys notice how you

treat your wife, but they’ll

also observe how well your

words and actions respect

other women. How do you

speak about a neighbor?

What jokes do you laugh at?

Nurture an atmosphere of

respect for women in your

home, in the conversations

you have and the entertainment

you enjoy. Consider

joining a church outreach

that ministers to single

moms. Introduce your boys

to books and movies that

portray male characters

who demonstrate respect

toward women and see

their equal worth.

Show them the

gold standard

Read the Gospels together with

an emphasis on seeing Jesus’ profound

respect for women. Jesus

carried out His earthly ministry in a

time when females were low in the

social hierarchy. Yet some of Jesus’

most heartfelt interactions were in

conversations with women. In the

name of love and respect, Jesus was

willing to break down man-made

cultural barriers that were harmful

to women.

His timeless example is still our

best illustration. When our sons

learn to follow Jesus, they grow

into men who respect women.

Dave Willis is a pastor and the author of

several books including Raising Boys Who

Respect Girls.

LISTEN NOW!

Dave Willis offers parents advice

for cultivating within their young

sons a healthy respect for others,

particularly girls and women.

FocusOnTheFamily.ca/Radio

ADOBE STOCK - STEVE BJORKMAN

12

APR / MAY 2026


19+

When Your

Adult Kids

Reject God

It’s never too late to

point them to Jesus

BY ROB RIENOW

LIGHTSTOCK - KEVINCARDEN / ADOBE STOCK - GALINA

AFTER COLLEGE, Gerry and Jen’s daughter,

Melissa, moved hundreds of miles away.

She not only left physically, but she also “left

home” spiritually. She had been raised as a

Christian and had always attended church,

but because of a series of hurts, poor choices

and spiritual battles, she no longer considered

herself a believer. Like many other parents in



“Love the LORD your God with all your

heart and with all your soul and

with all your might. And these words

that I command you today shall be

on your heart. You shall teach them

diligently to your children.”

—Deuteronomy 6:5-7

this situation, Gerry and Jen were

heartbroken and discouraged. Still,

they knew that parenting was a lifelong

mission, and they needed

to continue to reach out to their

daughter with God’s love.

They sent Melissa a letter. It was

simple. They wanted her to know,

in writing, how much they loved

God and how much they loved her.

There was no response, not even

a polite acknowledgment that the

letter had arrived. However, the

Lord worked in Melissa’s heart

and, two years later, she rekindled

her relationship with God. When

Melissa eventually shared her journey

with her parents, she told

them that God had used that letter

to start the process of turning her

heart back to Jesus.

If you have a son or daughter far

from God, it isn’t too late for your

faith to influence your child. As

Gerry and Jen knew, parenting is a

lifelong mission. There are four biblical

principles for you to consider as

you embrace the mission of encouraging

faith in your adult children.

LISTEN NOW!

Rob Rienow and his wife,

Amy, discuss how to catch a

God-sized vision for your family.


Offer your heart to the Lord

Can we hope to lead a child in a direction we aren’t going?

Consider the message in Deuteronomy 6:5-7: “Love the

Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul

and with all your might. And these words that I command

you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently

to your children.”

Parents tend to focus on that final challenge—the command

to help their children follow God. But in the larger

context of these instructions, God calls us to personally

love Him with all our heart before He addresses the way

we parent.

I believe there are two essential aspects for parents when

it comes to offering our hearts to the Lord: personal repentance

and praying diligently for our children. No one is

a perfect parent. We’ve all made (and continue to make)

mistakes. Have you taken those parenting failures to the

Lord with a spirit of repentance? The purpose is not to wallow

in past sins but to receive forgiveness and freedom

through Christ’s work on the Cross.

Adult kids make their own choices and will be held

accountable for what they choose. The parent is not

responsible for those choices. But we also must reject the

idea that how we have lived our lives hasn’t affected our

kids. Our lives have a ripple effect through generations.

Next, when it comes to praying for your children, I

encourage you to focus your prayers on their spiritual condition.

It may be that your son is struggling in his marriage

or your daughter is experiencing stress at her job. These

are important things to be praying for, but when one of our

children is far from God, the focus of our prayers should

be for the Holy Spirit to transform our child’s heart so he

or she is drawn into a living relationship with God through

Jesus ( John 6:44).

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“I will send you Elijah the

prophet before the great

and awesome day of the

LORD comes. And he will

turn the hearts of fathers

to their children and the

hearts of their children to

their fathers.”

—Malachi 4:5-6

Turn your heart to your child

Next, ask God to “turn your heart” to your child.

This principle comes from Malachi 4:5-6: “I will

send you Elijah the prophet before the great and

awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn

the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts

of their children to their fathers.”

God speaks of a day when He is going to work in

the hearts of parents and their children, turning

their hearts toward one another. What does it mean

to have your heart “turned” to your child? It means

that the Lord has given you a passion, a fire in your

belly, to see your son or daughter loving and living

for God.

I was recently talking with a parent whose son

had “come out” and was embracing a homosexual

lifestyle. The father was crying as he told me the

story. In a way, I was glad to see him crying because

I knew his heart was “turned” to his son. I don’t

believe that we will do the difficult work—spiritually,

emotionally, intellectually or relationally—to

pursue our prodigal children unless our hearts are

fully engaged.

We also must be on guard that our concern for

our children does not turn to bitterness. It may be

that your son or daughter has said or done things

that have deeply hurt you. Begin by taking those

things to the Lord in prayer, choosing to forgive as

the Lord has forgiven you. Then ask God to remove

anger from your heart.

“My son, give

me your heart.”

—Proverbs 23:26

Draw your child’s heart to yours

I am convinced that the shortest distance between your

adult child’s heart and Christ is your relationship with

him or her. God created family and ordained parents

as the primary spiritual influence in the lives of their

children. Your influence may look different now that

your son or daughter is grown, but it hasn’t ended. In

Proverbs 23:26, Solomon writes to his son, “My son, give

me your heart.” Solomon knew that he would have little

or no influence if he didn’t have a heart-connected relationship

with his son.

Steve was 22 years old. His heart was hard toward God

and his parents. In a counseling session with me, he

expressed that his father had invited him out to breakfast

to have a conversation with him.

Steve said, “When my dad says he wants to have a conversation

with me, it means him lecturing me for an hour

about all the problems in my life!” So Steve made plans

to meet his father for breakfast, out of respect, but his

heart was already closed to anything his dad might say.

In this situation, Steve’s father would have been far

wiser to sit with his son and say, “Steve, I know that lately

things have not been good between us. My purpose for

asking you to breakfast is to listen to your perspective

on things.”

Would you like to have more godly influence in the

lives of your adult kids? Influence flows through warmth,

closeness, honesty and respect. If your children are far

from God, invite them to be honest with you about their

perspectives on spiritual things. The more you build loving

relationships with your children, the more you can

encourage them in their faith.



“I am not ashamed of the

gospel, for it is the power

of God for salvation to

everyone who believes.”

—Romans 1:16

Point your child’s heart to Christ

As God restores and rebuilds your relationship, look

for opportunities to have honest, spiritual conversations.

And trust that the message of the Gospel is

powerful by itself. Remember Romans 1:16: “I am

not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God

for salvation to everyone who believes.”

It’s not up to you to come up with the right words

to say or the perfect actions to do. Remember that

this isn’t your burden alone. God loves your adult

children even more than you do. And as you share

the Gospel message “that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8), you can know the

Holy Spirit is at work in their hearts and minds.

NEVER TOO LATE

by Rob Rienow

A powerful message of hope and

practical wisdom based on four biblical

principles designed to guide parents

trying to point their adult children’s hearts

toward God.


Talking with your adult

children about Jesus

If you are preparing for a spiritual conversation with your

child, ask the Lord to give you the heart of Jesus. “When

[Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion for them,

because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep

without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). When we have

Christ’s heart of compassion for our children, we don’t

approach them with an attitude of forcing our religion on

them. Instead, God can help us in these moments to be

“full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

We communicate grace to our children when we

assure them of our love for them: “I love you, no matter

what. There is nothing you can do that will make me love

you any less.” We communicate truth when we are honest

with our children about their spiritual condition: “I

am concerned for you. More than anything else, I want

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to see you thriving in your relationship with God.”

Having honest, personal, spiritual conversations will

require courage. The Enemy would have you talk only

about work, the weather, movies and sports for the next

20 years. Perhaps you have heard this phrase: “Desperate

times call for desperate measures.” When our children

are far from God, it is a desperate time. Ask the Lord for

courage, boldness and faith.

God will not abandon you as you prayerfully seek to

share the Scriptures and His love with your children. He

has entrusted your son or daughter into your care, and it

is never too late for God to use you to lead your prodigal

child back to Him.

Rob Rienow, DMin, is the founder of Visionary Family Ministries and

the author of Never Too Late: Encouraging faith in your adult child.

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17



Striking a Chord

The key to stronger bonds

with your grandkids

BY BEVERLY JOHNSON

A HUSH FELL OVER the

crowd of parents and neighbors.

I directed the group of violinists,

mandolinists and guitarists as they

performed together. At the end of

the performance, the audience

clapped loudly. The young musicians

had big smiles, proud of

their accomplishment.

The performance wasn’t professional,

and neither were we. Music

was just something my husband

and I enjoyed. He played a couple of

instruments and sang. I played the

violin, guitar and piano, and liked

singing too. We found joy in bonding

with our grandkids and used music

to do this.

How we started

A daughter asked me to give her

young girls a few basic piano lessons.

Before long, all the grandkids

5 and older were taking those

basic lessons. And that’s what

began an almost 10-year adventure

that allowed my husband and

me to bond with most of our 28

grandchildren. Over time,

the grandchildren learned to

play, sing and become each

other’s friends.

Some of the kids wanted

to play the guitar or the violin

or another instrument. Others

wanted to sing. My husband gave

voice lessons and engineered the

recorded music for the solos and

group songs, another of his hobbies.

Eventually, little lessons grew into

full performances.

When the curtains opened

Each Christmas, we directed our

grandkids in a musical play that

told something about the story

of Jesus’ birth. In the spring, our

recitals had themes. The older

grandchildren made invitations

and programs for the shows. Others

worked on the sets and music with

Grandpa. I sewed the costumes,

another of my hobbies, sometimes

with help from a daughter.

And before each show, we prayed

with our grandchildren to keep

the pre-performance jitters to a

minimum.

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How to

Get Started

You love your grandkids and

your hobbies, so how do you

share what you like to do

with your favorite people?

Here are a few ideas:

Plan a hobby day

Set a date on the calendar, perhaps twice a

year, that’s dedicated to exploring one of your

hobbies with your grandkids. This could be a

time when you plant flowers together, if you’re

a gardener, or go on a walk to take photos.

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The final performance

My husband went to be with the

Lord several years ago, and that first

year after his death, all the grandchildren

gathered on Christmas

Eve and put on a show, surprising

their parents and me. They used

moments from previous shows as

the basis for this performance.

My husband and I shared our

love of music with them, and they

used their musical abilities to minister

to me. I was so glad that we

had taken the time to invite them

into our hobbies.

Beverly Johnson is the mother of eight,

the grandmother of 28, and the greatgrandmother

of 22—and counting.

Teach a class

As you have time, perhaps you can teach a

hands-on class about baking, playing music,

scrapbooking, sewing or whatever your hobby

is. Start with the basics so the class is age

appropriate.

Bridge the distance

with technology

If you don’t live nearby, consider sending

a video link of yourself doing the hobby

and even transfer money to their parents’

account for supplies. Do you like sports?

Simultaneously watch a televised game and

text each other about it. Or plan a watch party

for favorite movie releases. If you like online

games, such as checkers or another app, keep

your connection alive by playing together.

—B.J.


20

ILLUSTRATIONX - DÉBORA ISLAS

PODCAST / PARENTING

Interview with

Christin Rosa

In 2013, Christin Rosa and her husband, Mauricio,

welcomed their fi rst son. In 2016, while pregnant with boy

and girl twins, they were told this son would likely not

survive. After a lot of uncertainty, both twins were born and

Christin wrote about her experience in her book, Saving

Nate. She shares part of her story in this podcast episode.

Choosing Life and Hope After a

Devastating Prenatal Diagnosis

EPISODE 38

CREDIT TK

CHRISTIN: I was filled with

incredible sadness because the

doctor gave us this really hopeless

diagnosis. They didn’t give us any

reason to think our son was going

to survive.

For that first week, I thought he

wasn’t going to make it and we

were going to lose our son. We were

Check out all new episodes of

this 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!

FocusOnTheFamily.ca/Podcast

both really sad. We left that doctor’s

appointment and when we

got to the car, we prayed together

and then we decided to go get a

coffee. I remember sitting there at

Tim Hortons just trying not to cry.

Thankfully, we both knew where we

needed to go in terms of getting the

hope we needed.

So, I turned to the Word of God

and there were some verses that

really helped to get me through,

like Philippians 4:6-7. And I can say

that, not immediately, but by the

end of that first week, the peace of

Christ really was filling me.

[Mauricio and I] came back

together and said we don’t know

the outcome of all of this, we don’t

know if our son is going to live or

die, but we decided that we’re going

to trust in God—we’re going to let

God be God and let Him decide the

outcome.

Listen to this full episode

of The Thriving Family on

April 14 and find a link to

Christin’s book.


Podcast

Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube

This episode includes personal reflections on pregnancy loss and abortion. Listener

discretion advised. If you would like to speak to someone or book a free one-time phone

counseling consultation, call Focus on the Family Canada at 1-800-661-9800 or visit

FocusOnTheFamily.ca/Counseling.


PARENTING / MEDIA

For reviews of the titles below and other

movies and TV shows, visit PluggedIn.com,

a Focus on the Family media review and

discernment website.

FINDING THE GOOD IN

TODAY’S ENTERTAINMENT

BY BOB HOOSE

THE SUPER MARIO

GALAXY MOVIE

Is the video-game

icon prepared to

handle the expansion

of his world?

SCHEDULED RELEASE:

APRIL 3

OUR KIDS’ WORLD is awash in entertainment. And we know

that the media they consume can impact them in negative ways. But

let’s not overlook the opportunities for positive impact as well.

Every form of entertainment that’s swirling about our kids—from

movies to video games—is, at its core, a form of storytelling. And

storytelling has always been fundamental to humanity. That’s why

Jesus used parables to teach about the kingdom of God in ways that

were engaging and relatable to His audience. He challenged societal

norms and asked people to embrace God’s truth through story.

We can use media in today’s entertainment pool to do the same.

Doing it well takes wise discernment and purposeful effort. Kids learn

by watching, listening and talking. If we present them with uplifting

entertainment and raise good questions about any negatives, we

equip them to engage in critical thought and deeper reflection.

Are there positive entertainment options out there? Of course! As

a reviewer with Plugged In and a long-time contributor to the family

radio drama Adventures in Odyssey, I can attest that there are fabulous

entertainment choices available.

Of course, finding worthwhile options takes discernment. But we

can connect with our kids through good entertainment. And the

more we join our kids in choosing uplifting entertainment to enjoy

together, the easier it becomes to use today’s “parables” in positive,

thoughtful ways. In turn, that will encourage our kids to look for good

stories on their own.

Bob Hoose has been involved in Christian theater and radio for decades and now reviews

movies and video games for Plugged In.

THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU

Are the armor-clad bounty hunter and

his diminutive apprentice ready for action?

SCHEDULED RELEASE:

MAY 22

MICHAEL

Will audiences hit the

theaters to see the king

of pop’s backstory?

SCHEDULED RELEASE:

APRIL 24

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Marriage

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“WHEN TWO HEALTHY

ADULTS ARE BUILDING

A RELATIONSHIP WITH

EACH OTHER AND WITH

GOD, THEY CAN ALSO

EXPERIENCE A VIBRANT,

SHARED SPIRITUAL

EXPERIENCE TOGETHER.”

CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED MARRIAGE:

12 SECRETS FOR A LIFELONG ROMANCE

by —ROBERT Dr. Greg and PAUL Erin Smalley WITH

Through DR. practical GREG SMALLEY

advice and stories, you will learn

how to overcome roadblocks in your relationship

and build a healthy and thriving marriage.

FocusOnTheFamily.com/TK


MARRIAGE / PODCAST

7 Team-Building Games For

A Winning Marriage

ROUNTABLE:

Christmas Stories

25:37 / 45:44

Today’s episode is all about building a stronger

team, and in this case, that team is a marriage. If

Greg and Erin host a roundtable discussion

team-building activities work in uniting co-workers

with a group of married couples and talk about

and near strangers, how much more will it do for

Christmas stories from their early years.

you and your spouse?

Overcoming Gridlock in the

EPISODE 43 WITH SAUNDRA, MEGAN AND STERLING

Midst of Conflict

Christmas Stories From the Early Years of Marriage

SAUNDRA: EPISODE 30Our first Christmas

as a married couple, my brother-inlaw

lived with us. My husband, J.C.,

DO and I YOU wanted BECOME to make the increasingly

without inflexible making your his side brother of a feel

holiday

ours

left conflict out, so and we refuse woke to up listen early to and your

opened spouse’s gifts position? for each Rather other than before

his sharing brother your joined hopes, us dreams for breakfast. and

That aspirations night, J.C. with and your I looked partner, at lights perhaps

stopped you squelch for hot them cocoa for and lack of

and

affirmation.

snacks from the convenience store.

Check out all new episodes of

this podcast featuring authentic

Canadian Subscribe conversations. to “Crazy Little This

space—where Thing Called faith, Marriage” family to and

culture get practical intersect—is advice available and

expert on Focus insight on from the Family Dr. Greg

Canada’s and Erin free Smalley. mobile With app, on

years our website of experience, and wherever they’ll

guide

you get

you

your

through

podcasts!

the ups


and downs of marriage.


When we travel, J.C. and I get

a wooden ornament inscribed

with the year. Year three is from

Vancouver, When there’s British a decrease Columbia. in We

did humor the and Sea to affection, Sky Gondola. there’s The a previous

natural year increase was from in stonewalling,

a musical at a

local criticism, Bible contempt college, and our defensiveness.

our honeymoon John Gottman in calls Dollywood. this

first year

from

"gridlock." One of my favorite memories

is The when trick we to baked overcome cookies. this They gridlock?

Set great, a yearly but some strategy. were poorly

tasted

decorated. In Habakkuk My husband 2:2, the Lord looked

at instructs one he us finished to “Write and the said, vision; “This

cookie make it looks plain.” like a prisoner. I don’t

know To start how your we got own here, strategizing,

brainstorm we’re at.” and He’d write decorated down his

but that’s

where

gingerbread your marriage man mission with black statement. and

This white could stripes. be Christmas general as crafts committing

to bring joy to your

are

family,

Apple Podcasts

fun because you get so many laughs

at how terrible they end up looking.

We did try making tamales,

which friends is and his community. family’s custom. Then It’s work a

smooth together process on specific for his strategies, large family, outlining

that what year, you we will had or a will friend not teach do to

but

J.C. accomplish and me. your By hour goal. four, I said,

“I don’t As you want unearth to make and tamales share your anymore.”

So and we’re aspirations, figuring your out how path to

dreams

out blend of gridlock the traditions will gradually we can do. begin Just

the to appear. two of us.

Listen to this the full episode roundtable

discussion of Focus the with Family Dr. Greg

and Canada’s Erin podcast, Smalley. Th e

Thriving Family.

FocusOnTheFamily.com/

NewlywedChristmas


Podcast

RSS Feed

Apple Podcasts Amazon Music YouTube

Dr. Greg Smalley is the vice president of Marriage and Family Formation at Focus on the

Family. Erin Smalley serves alongside her husband, Greg, as a strategic spokesperson for

Focus on the Family’s marriage ministry. Together they host the “Crazy Little Thing Called

Marriage” podcast.

CREDIT TK

THE TRUTH

ABOUT BECOMING

AND A MISCONCEPTION I HAD ABOUT

BIBLICAL UNITY IN MARRIAGE

BY ROBERT PAUL WITH DR. GREG SMALLEY

ADOBE STOCK - CHRISTIAN HORZ, MAYRUM1


MARRIAGE / HEALTHY PERSPECTIVES

ABOUT NINE YEARS into

my marriage, the conflict pattern

I had with my wife, Jenni, was

predictable. When differences

arose, I would try to help Jenni

see why her position and feelings

were wrong and how she needed

to change. Jenni’s emotions

would then escalate into anger

to get me to back off.

One day during that season, we

got sideways over something, and

Jenni asked if we could walk to

the park so we could talk.

I agreed.

When we arrived, she took out

a piece of paper and drew a line

down the middle. She labeled

one side “Bob” and the other side

“Jenni.” On the “Bob” side, she

listed the way I saw the issue. On

the other side, she listed the way

she saw it.

She then asked me if I agreed

with her description.

I acknowledged that what she

had listed on each side of the

paper was accurate.

Then Jenni said, “From my perspective,

you just see this issue

differently than I do. And I’m OK

with the way you see it. Can you

be OK with the way I see it?”

My answer was an emphatic no.

Jenni was shocked by my

response. In her mind, differences

were an acceptable and natural

part of all human relationships.

However, at that point I was thoroughly

locked into a belief that

differences were a problem to

overcome. That’s because I had an

unrealistic view of marital unity. I

thought that when a husband and

wife were joined in matrimony,

they essentially gave up their individuality

in order to become “one.”

Discovering a healthier model

for marriage eventually turned

our marriage around. Letting go

of my false idea about unity and

replacing it with a biblical mindset

allowed us to form a healthier

relationship. Let’s take a look

at the true unity that God has

designed for couples.

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The 1 + 1 = 1 lie

When I was first married, the math

equation 1 + 1 = 1 sounded like a

wonderful representation of marriage

. On the surface, it seemed to

align with God’s plan for husbands

and wives to experience oneness.

Jesus’ teaching on marriage

describes oneness as unity: “So they

are no longer two but one flesh.

What therefore God has joined

together, let not man separate”

(Matthew 19:6). Jesus uses the metaphor

of “one flesh” to describe the

spiritual, emotional and physical

unity couples can experience only

in marriage.

But what I’ve since learned in

my years of leadership at Focus on

the Family and working with married

couples, is that this metaphor

can’t be taken literally; otherwise,

every married couple’s goal would

be to become conjoined twins. This

two-become-one model seems

to promise fewer arguments, but

as Jenni and I found, it produced

more discord because one spouse’s

preferences, choices, ideas and

personality may get attacked or

even eliminated.

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APR / MAY 2026

HEALTHY PERSPECTIVES / MARRIAGE

FOTF - KEN CRANE

LISTEN NOW!

Learn how to cherish the differences

between you and your spouse

to bring true unity into your

marriage through the expert

advice of Dr. Greg Smalley.


A biblical marriage

A healthy relationship requires

the foundational building block

of a biblical marriage: the healthy

adult. And by “healthy” I mean a

person capable of fully caring for

his or her whole being—physical,

mental, emotional and spiritual—who

has also accepted full

responsibility for the job.

Sounds simple, right? I wish

it were, but sadly it’s not. As Dr.

Greg Smalley, vice president of

Marriage and Family Formation

at Focus on the Family, and

I work with struggling couples,

we’ve noticed that both the

understanding of true adulthood

and the modeling of it are largely

missing today.

The good news is that becoming

an adult is fundamentally

about those two factors I

mentioned: capability and

responsibility. If you can care

well for yourself and then take

on the job, you qualify. Those of

us with less-than-ideal examples

to rely on may have to work a little

harder to figure it out, but it’s

completely doable.

There’s one more important

element to becoming fully

functioning, healthy adults: recognizing

that, by design, we

are dependent on God. We are

flawed and imperfect people

who need His help. The great

news is that He can provide so

much of what we need. Thus,

the job of effective adults is to

responsibly care for ourselves

while simultaneously depending

on the Lord, who is our ultimate

source of life, strength, wisdom

and knowledge.

Through a commitment to

personal responsibility and selfcare,

healthy individuals become

capable of forging a strong marriage

bond.

Healthy adults interact

When Greg and I work with

couples in our respective roles,

we try to help them understand

a concept of marriage that

moves beyond the faulty 1 + 1 = 1

equation. We call it the Healthy

Marriage Model. This unique

model provides a clearer picture

of God’s design for marriage.

When two healthy adults build

a relationship, a new dynamic

is formed: the Interactive Space.

This is where their relationship

can grow and mature. Within

this Interactive Space, the relationship

develops as the couple

learns more about each other by

sharing who they are, what they

enjoy and what they want to do

in life. If things seem good and

they want to go deeper still, they

might discuss their dreams and

aspirations, their passions and

their sense of life calling.

If the Interactive Space feels

tense or is filled with anger, or

spouses anticipate criticism,

hurtful interactions or other

unpleasant experiences, they’ll

likely be apprehensive to enter. If,

however, the space is warm, cozy,

exciting, loving and pleasurable,

they’ll be far more likely to want

to engage with each other. They

each get to do their part to help

create an interactive environment

they both feel comfortable

in and look forward to spending

time in.


MARRIAGE / HEALTHY PERSPECTIVES

Interactive

Space

Covenant Marriage Boundary

The Interactive Space

Over time, neglect of the

Interactive Space is where many

couples encounter trouble.

Having initially created a warm

and vibrant space, they ignore

it, assuming it will continue to

grow on its own. For a couple’s

relationship to continue thriving,

spouses must regularly enter

the Interactive Space together and

invest time and energy into keeping

the relationship alive. This

is where they can cultivate the

friendship and a marriage they

love. If they don’t maintain the

space, the relationship may wither

and die for lack of attention.

When two healthy adults are

building a relationship with each

other and with God, they can also

experience a vibrant, shared spiritual

experience together. A couple

can invest in their spiritual intimacy

by turning their private

times with God into times where

they interact with God together.

This can include prayer, devotions,

Bible study, church and Sunday

school attendance, discussions

about God and their faith journeys

and many other rich opportunities

that can deepen their intimate

relationship with God. This makes

the Healthy Marriage Model math

become 1 + 1 = 3. A husband and

a wife experience true unity only

when they give their marriage

attention under God’s care.

Hard work pays off

Jenni and I have come a long

way since that day in the

park when I didn’t appreciate

our different perspectives.

The Lord has even helped

us overcome a common

source of tension: planning

our vacations. Jenni and I

have very different ideas

about what an ideal vacation

is. Jenni loves to go and

do and see as much as possible.

I also love to travel and

see new things, but when we

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APR / MAY 2026

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did vacations Jenni’s way,

I came home exhausted,

needing a vacation from

our vacation. By contrast,

my ideal vacation is to find

a beautiful, scenic beach

where I can relax, sun and

swim, with no agenda or

time constraints.

Our differing ideas about

vacations became fertile

ground for constant conflict

in our marriage. But

God had a better plan: unity.

Jenni and I have learned

to hear each other’s heart

and better manage conflict.

After talking about how we

each feel about vacations,

what each other’s preferences

are and why we feel

that way, we decided to try

to create a vacation that we

could both love.

As a result, we strategically

planned a road trip to

Yellowstone and Grand Teton

National Parks in a way we

had never done before: day

on, day off, day on, day off.

We filled “on” days with sightseeing

and experiences that

would leave us fulfilled and

exhausted. On the “off” days,

we relaxed and recharged by

sitting around a body of water.

In the end, we both agreed

it was the best vacation ever.

We discovered that when we

allow our differences to blend,

we find ways of operating as a

couple that are far better than

either of us would have found

alone.

Robert Paul is the vice president of the

Focus on the Family Marriage Institute.

Dr. Greg Smalley is the vice president

of Marriage and Family Formation at

Focus on the Family. This article is

adapted from their book, 9 Lies That

Will Destroy Your Marriage.

⅓

This gives me

renewed hope to

breathe new life

into our marriage.

FOTF - KEN CRANE

9 LIES THAT WILL DESTROY

YOUR MARRIAGE

by Dr. Greg Smalley and Robert Paul

Marriage experts Greg and Robert identify

the rampant lies that are killing marriages

and reveal the truths that can rescue those

relationships that are floundering.


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MARRIAGE / TRUST

Believing

the Best

Replace negative thoughts about

your spouse with positive ones

BY LAUREN BLASCHKE

THE KIDS WERE down for bed, so my

husband, Byron, and I were alone when our

conversation took an unexpected turn.

“Sometimes I don’t think you’re believing

the best about me when it comes to Wesley,”

Byron said. “I don’t think you fully trust me.”

My first response was denial. I said of

course I trusted him to treat my son the

same way he treated his two biological children,

Ethan and Layla.

But then he gave several examples where

I had challenged his parenting decisions. He

continued, “I’m asking you to believe the

best about this situation and me.”

Several times over the next couple of

days, I asked myself, What do I really believe

about Byron?

Put it on paper

During these pensive sessions, I wrote out some thoughts I’d had

about him that stemmed from fear that Byron wouldn’t love Wes

because he’s not Wes’ bio dad. Deep down, I knew these thoughts

weren’t accurate, so I prayed and went to work battling them. In

addition to writing out the ugly thoughts, I also penned what I

would instead choose to believe about Byron.

Thought: Byron forgets about Wes.

Truth: I would never forget about Ethan and Layla. Byron would

never forget about Wes.

Thought: At bedtime, Byron spends more time with Ethan and

Layla than with Wes.

Truth: Byron isn’t going to show favoritism. He’s going to give

our children exactly what they need at bedtime. The Lord will

guide us daily.

Thought: When Byron came home yesterday, he hugged Wes last

on purpose.

Truth: Byron wouldn’t want Wes to feel any less loved than

Ethan and Layla, as I’d never want Ethan and Layla to feel any less

loved than Wes.

CREDIT ADOBE STOCK TK - JOLLYRITA / FOTF - SALLY DUNN

30

APR / MAY 2026

TRUST / MARRIAGE

SHIFT YOUR THINKING

While every marriage relationship is different, here are

a few conversation starters to help voice your feelings

to your spouse. And with some intentional forethought,

your positive outlook just may buoy the spirit of your

conversation. Although each truth must come from

you, a truth is given for each as an example. Here are

nine ways to make a shift in your thinking:

CREDIT TK

Pivot my thinking

One evening soon afterward, Ethan

and Layla were at their mom’s

house. Byron called and said, “I

need to finish up a work project. I’ll

be home late.”

Immediately my mind began,

He’s coming home late because it’s

just Wes and me tonight. He’d be on

time if Ethan and Layla were here.

Almost as immediately, I caught

myself. No. He’s working late

because of this project. It has nothing

to do with who is and who isn’t

home. I exhaled a sigh of faith.

One lie caught. One battle of the

mind won. One step of hope in

believing the best about Byron with

God’s grace holding us together.

Lauren Blaschke is a freelance writer from

The Woodlands, Texas.

LISTEN NOW!

Ted Lowe explains how a shift in your

thoughts can help you embrace a

positive perspective and build a healthier

marriage. By looking at your spouse

through the filter of Philippians 4:8, you’ll

learn ways to examine your mindset.


It feels like my spouse has a

friendly disposition toward

everyone but me.

TRUTH:

My spouse feels

comfortable with me and can truly

be himself/herself when we’re alone.

He or she isn’t taking our marriage

for granted.

My spouse doesn’t value

my opinion.

TRUTH:

He or she already knows

where I stand on the issue and just

needs time to thoughtfully respond.

My husband/wife doesn’t

show me affection when

we’re in mixed company.

TRUTH:

My spouse is shy/reserved/

private and instead saves those

moments for us alone.

My spouse doesn’t share in

household responsibilities.

TRUTH:

There may be an imbalance

now, but once we move past this

season, we can revisit ways to make

this a reasonable give and take.

My spouse does not defend

me/take my side when in a

quarrel with in-laws.

TRUTH:

My spouse has a hard time

speaking up in the moment but does

see and understand my position. He/

she is for me and not against me.

My spouse does not care

about how I feel. He/she

instead avoids emotionally

charged arguments.

TRUTH:

My spouse would rather

take the time to thoughtfully

engage with me and respond to

the issue instead of reacting in

the moment.

My spouse does not

appreciate all I do for

him/her, the household

and the kids.

TRUTH:

We both do so much to

support each other and our family.

Have I, likewise, appreciated my

spouse? The praise can start

with me.

My husband/wife knows

the bad habits that unnerve

me. Yet he or she persists

in them.

TRUTH:

My spouse desires to please

me but habits can be difficult to

break. What habits do I keep that

I could work to correct?

My spouse won’t admit

wrongdoing or apologize

when we’re in a fight.

TRUTH:

We might both consider

Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:3. Next

time, I will try to step back during an

argument to recognize we’re both

imperfect people in need of grace.

—L.B.


MARRIAGE / PERCEPTION

Is Conflict Healthy

in Marriage?

That depends on whether you’re

peacemaking or peacekeeping

BY KAREN LEANN MURPHY

WHEN MY HUSBAND, Mike, and

I had been married for about 14 years, a

friend who was still a newlywed told me

about a revelation she’d experienced. Her

Sunday school leader stated that most men

mistakenly and sincerely believe that a big

argument (or a series of little arguments)

between a husband and wife indicates

that something is seriously wrong with

the marriage.

She said several women in the class,

including her, were incredulous. So the

leader asked any men who felt that way to

raise their hands. To her surprise, her husband

raised his hand and even expressed

relief when most of the other men did the

same. They all seemed surprised to find that

arguments are, in fact, a normal part of a

good, even great, marriage.

She suggested I ask my husband. I confidently

said that we’d been married a bit

longer and that Mike knew happily married

people argued. Later, as I told Mike about my

friend’s story, his eyes widened and he cut

me off to say, “Man, that makes me feel better!”

His response shocked me as much as

my friend’s husband had surprised her.

Seek peace

Peace is something we all

strive for, but many married

couples wrongly believe

that living in peace should be

a natural and normal state.

Before the Fall, that might

have been true. Indeed, every

relationship recorded in any

detail in Scripture—except

the relationship among Jesus,

God the Father and the Holy

Spirit—is broken.

In one of the most poignant

peacemaking events in the

Bible, Jesus seeks peace for

and with Peter on the shore of

the Sea of Galilee. Remember

the scene in John 21? Jesus,

risen from the dead, has fixed

breakfast for Peter and the

disciples. He’s called them

in from fishing after helping

them fill their nets. They’ve

eaten together.

Then Jesus initiates reconciliation

with Peter, the one who

denied Him three times before

the rooster crowed (Matthew

26:69-75). He doesn’t wait for

Peter to apologize or even ask

for an apology. He instead gives

Peter the chance to affirm his

love for Him—three times. And

each time, Jesus encourages

Peter to put his love into action.

Peter declared his love for

Jesus three times and experienced

Jesus’ restorative grace.

He then asked about John.

“ ‘Lord, what about this man?’

Jesus said to him, ‘If it is my

will that he remain until I come,

what is that to you? You follow

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APR / MAY 2026

PERCEPTION / MARRIAGE

me!’ ” (John 21:21-22).

We do that, don’t we? We hear

Jesus speaking to us, calling us to

live for Him, and we point at someone

else and ask, “What about him?”

I can often see myself in Peter’s missteps.

The impetuosity, the rush to

mistaken actions, the confidence

that I would never . . . only to never

like I never nevered before—just in

time to hear the rooster crow.

Peace: an active force

Real peace is possible only

because of Jesus’ willingness to

fight for us against the Enemy: “In

me you may have peace. In the

world you will have tribulation.

But take heart; I have overcome

the world” (John 16:33).

Peace in Scripture refers to harmony,

completeness, soundness

BECOMING A WIFE: 21 DAYS

OF PREPARATION FOR A

DAUGHTER OF GOD

by Karen Leann Murphy

As you prepare for marriage, it’s essential

to go beyond the excitement of the

wedding day and focus on what comes

after. Becoming a Wife offers godly

guidance on how to begin your marriage

with biblical wisdom and to develop

the joy of a life-long relationship.


and contentment. But God’s peace is

not passive. It’s an active force in our

lives. So an important step in arguing

well is to seek peace and to be

willing to:

• compromise for the good of your

marriage.

• sacrifice your preferences to keep

peace.

• overcome cultural pressure that

encourages you to exert your own

will and way.

• honor Christ by honoring your

spouse.

Peacemaking requires reconciliation—whereas

peacekeeping often

lets issues fester and leaves conflicts

unresolved. We can’t have

harmony with unresolved conflict.

We can’t enjoy contentment

without restoration. We can’t have

soundness when sin is left unaddressed.

When we keep our focus

on Jesus and His will for our lives,

we can truly seek peace with and

for our spouses.

On my wedding day, I made a vow

(that I often struggle to honor) that

I would respect my husband and

submit to him as unto the Lord. I’ve

entered into an agreement that I will

do good regardless of what happens,

even when things are hard. The fact

that we argue and fuss doesn’t mean

something is fundamentally wrong

with our marriage. It means we’re

human beings trying to live authentic

lives together. After all, when iron

sharpens iron, sparks fly.

Karen Leann Murphy is an author and speaker.

She and Mike enjoy living on an oxbow of the

Red River in Louisiana and spending time with

their sons’ families and their grandsons.

Adapted from Becoming a Wife: 21 days of

preparation for a daughter of God by Karen

Leann Murphy. © 2026 by Karen Leann Murphy.

A Focus on the Family resource published with

Tyndale House Publishers Inc.

Please note this advice does not apply to

marriages where abuse is present. If you

need professional guidance, call Focus

on the Family Canada’s care and counseling

team at 1-800-661-9800 or visit

FocusOnTheFamily.ca/Counseling.


Restore hope for

your marriage

A biblically based counseling program to

restore and rebuild your marriage. Available

at our retreat centers in Alberta, Manitoba

and Ontario.

Start restoring your

marriage today!

1.833.999.HOPE(4673)

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Faith

“UNTIL THE END OF TIME,

JESUS HAS COMMITTED

HIMSELF TO CARE FOR US

AND INTERCEDE FOR US

WITH HIS FATHER.”

—SUBBY SZTERSZKY

ADOBE STOCK - OLEXIY VASILYUK

YOUR JOURNEY FROM BROKEN TO

BLESSED: FINDING THE HOPE YOU

DIDN’T RECEIVE

by Dr. John Trent and Kari Trent Stageberg

Even if you’ve never experienced a loving

relationship with your parents, you can affirm

your worth, find healing from past hurt and

experience God’s love and blessing.

FocusOnTheFamily.com/Blessed


FAITH / TESTIMONY

WALKER HAYES

How faith, family and a friend reshaped his priorities

BY BENJAMIN HAWKINS

PULLING HIS HOOD over his head, Walker Hayes

snuck into the bookstore. It had been two years since he

made his breakthrough on country music charts with his

2017 hit, “You Broke Up With Me.”

He’d just finished touring. And on this night in late

2019, he didn’t want to strike up any conversations. He

didn’t want to be noticed. He pulled a Bible from the

shelf, paid for it and went home.

Bible sales were up by one, and this covert purchase

reshaped Walker’s heart and life. “I read it cover to cover,”

Walker says. But this transformation wasn’t the result of a

single purchase. Even years before he opened the pages

of Scripture, God began softening his heart through

friendship, disappointment and a level of grief that—

Walker admits—can tear marriages and families apart.

Promising start and dashed dreams

In 2004, Walker married his high school sweetheart,

Laney, and they surprised their families with their move

from Mobile, Alabama, to Nashville, Tennessee. Walker

dreamed of becoming a singer-songwriter, and Laney

believed his dreams would come true.

“We said for better; we said for worse,” Walker sings in

his song “I Still Do” on the album 17 Problems. “But we

didn’t know what worse would mean/We said for richer;

we said for poorer/But we didn’t know how broke we’d be.”

While the couple followed their dreams to Nashville

in 2005, Walker struggled to find his place in the country

music industry. Over the next decade, he was signed

with Mercury Records Nashville and Capitol Records

Nashville. But by 2015, he hadn’t seen any major

ADOBE STOCK - AFSTUDIO87, MORE PROFRESH, UGGUGGU

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APR / MAY 2026

TESTIMONY / FAITH

The Hayes family

backstage on The

Duck Buck Tour

in 2023

CURT SIMSHAUSER

hits—and, by that time, he had also lost both record

deals.

Though he kept writing songs, Walker picked up a

shift at Costco to make ends meet for his growing family.

After 10 years of marriage, the Hayes family had added

six children. Once his record deal fell through resulting

in strained finances, the car dealership repossessed

the family’s minivan. They had no money and only one

vehicle—a Honda Accord that didn’t even have enough

seatbelts for the whole family.

“At that point,” Walker says, “it felt like everyone

frowned upon us.” Even their families back in Alabama

wondered what they were doing. Walker and Laney

loved each other, and they loved their kids. But they felt

alone. A self-professed atheist, Walker couldn’t even turn

to God for help. Instead, his disappointment with life

sunk him deeper into alcoholism.

A new friend

In early 2014, while watching one of her kids at an

Upward Sports basketball game, Laney met Laura

Cooper, another mom in the bleachers. Laura’s husband,

Craig, was a bi-vocational pastor at Redeeming Grace

Church in Franklin, Tennessee. Soon Laura invited

Laney and her family to visit the church.

So one Saturday evening, the Hayes family darkened

the doors of Redeeming Grace. Walker admits he didn’t

want to be there. And he was tipsy from drinking earlier

that day. Still, Craig Cooper greeted Walker warmly with

an “ I’m glad you’re here.”


FAITH / TESTIMONY

Walker onstage during his

Walker Hayes: Unplugged

Tour in November of 2025

Walker and

Laney dated and

later married in

June of 2004.

Craig, Laura,

Laney and

Walker serving

in Rwanda

together, 2023

CREDIT TK ADOBE STOCK -MORE PROFRESH, UGGUGGU, MARKRADEMAKER

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TESTIMONY / FAITH

The response surprised Walker, but he didn’t feel as

uncomfortable at Redeeming Grace as he had expected.

The Hayes and Cooper families struck up a genuine

friendship. Over time, Walker felt Craig loved him

unconditionally and encouraged him in his dreams

as a musician.

A year later, when Walker lost his record deal and his

family’s minivan, Craig and Laura chose to help. Walker

shared in his 2017 song “Craig” how the Coopers “took

roadside assistance to a whole other level /to sacrificial

heights.”

One night, their friends showed up at the ballpark in

two separate cars just as the Hayes family was leaving a

baseball game.

“What in the world are y’all doing here?” Walker asked.

Craig laughed and offered him keys, a pen and the title

to their Chrysler Town & Country van. “All you got to do

is sign, and it’s yours,” he replied.

“No, no way,” Walker said.

But Craig was insistent. “Please,” he said. “Somebody

did this for me once. Just let me do this for you.”

Still Walker argued. But one of his children piped up:

“Dad, just take the car!” It was settled, and the Hayes family

drove home in their new vehicle.

“It confused me,” Walker recalls. Why would Craig

and Laura love them so much, so selflessly? Though he

wasn’t yet a Christian when he wrote these lyrics, he

sang about how Craig’s unconditional love was shaping

the way he viewed the Savior: “He can’t walk on water, . . .

but he just might be tight with a man that did/Now he’s

not the light of the world, but . . ./he just might be tight

with a man that is.”

“Craig is not Jesus,” Walker says, “but he was one of the

first humans that God allowed me to see Christ through.

He’s been with me through the highs and lows.”

A step back . . .

and forward

The lows included Walker’s growing addiction to alcohol.

In an unguarded moment, Walker admitted to Craig

that, if only he could stop drinking, he would believe that

God exists.

God was softening Walker’s heart. Upon waking one

Saturday morning, he knew he couldn’t take another sip

of beer. He was at the end of his rope, and he was convinced

that one more drink would kill him. So he didn’t

drink that day . . . or the next. He was taking his first steps

in a new life of sobriety. Though he was tempted occasionally

to pick up a beer, he didn’t.

During the next couple of years, life improved for the

Hayes family. Walker was finally gaining success as a

musician, and the family had a minivan, ample food

on the table and money to pay the bills. Then, in late

2017, they found out they were pregnant with their seventh

child.

On June 6, 2018, Laney went into labor. Her previous

deliveries had been quick —one of their children

nearly arrived when they were still on the highway ! So

this time, they decided to do a home delivery with a

midwife.

At first all seemed well, though Walker noticed the

labor was taking longer than usual and Laney was looking

unusually weary. Then, the midwife couldn’t find the

baby’s heartbeat. They called 911, and mother and baby

were rushed to the hospital.

When Walker got to the hospital, he soon learned he

had a daughter, Oakleigh Klover. But she didn’t survive.

Meanwhile, Laney’s uterus had ruptured, and she was

bleeding profusely. He wondered if he would lose her

too. Craig met Walker at the hospital, and the two men

wept together and waited. Finally, Walker heard some

good news. Laney’s bleeding had stopped, and she was

stable. But now he had to tell her their baby girl was gone.

Sorrow engulfed Laney at hearing the news, but

Walker grieved in anger. On the evening after Oakleigh’s

funeral, Walker was boiling with rage. He left his family

at home and drove to the bar. His plan: Get drunk, start

a brawl and fight until the police took him in.

There was only one problem. When he got to the bar,

he realized he’d left his wallet at home. So he left the bar

and went home. When he walked through the front door,

he found Laney alone and in the dark. Was he really selfish

enough to leave her like this, get drunk and end up in

jail? He couldn’t. He wouldn’t.

CREDIT TK


FAITH / TESTIMONY

“Craig is not Jesus, but

he was one of the first

humans that God

allowed me to see

Christ through.”

—Walker Hayes

GLAD YOU’RE HERE

by Walker Hayes & Craig Allen Cooper

Read how God used two unlikely friends

to witness to a family.


Walker & Craig

Supporting HOPE

International, a

cause very close

to their hearts

Reshaped

As they walked through their grief, both Laney

and Walker wrestled with God, though Laney

turned to Him more quickly. She recommended

that Walker read a book by Rosaria

Butterfield, The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely

Convert. He knew he needed to change, but

he didn’t really believe that anyone could be

changed by the Gospel. Rosaria’s book began to

convince him otherwise. He saw his own heart

and life in her story, and he wanted to be transformed

as she had.

So, in late 2019, he snuck into the bookstore,

bought a Bible and began reading it nonstop.

As he did, he noticed Christ was the only true

hero of Scripture. Just like Walker, every other

character was flawed and needed a Savior. He

says, “My need mirrored their need for Christ.”

“The Bible is alive,” Walker says. “It meets you

where you are in the scope of eternity.” Then

one day over dinner, Walker admitted to Craig

that his views had changed; his newfound faith

was reshaping his life and family.

Before he knew Christ, Walker says, he idolized

his music, sought to impress people and

longed for their affirmation. His priorities have

changed. His family comes before his career

now, and his first calling is to love them and

point them to Jesus.

“That shift,” he says, “was a life-changing joy.

It’s a taste of heaven. My family, they’re more

precious to me than they were prior to Christ.”

Now, he also holds his gifts with an open

hand and wants to honor God through his

music. He wants to help those who feel isolated

in disappointment and grief, and offer them

hope. “I want people to be less lonely,” he says.

“I met Christ, but I met Christ through a regular

dude named Craig, and this life was instantly

less lonely.”

Benjamin Hawkins is a freelance writer and the editor of The

Pathway, the news journal of the Missouri Baptist Convention.

ADOBE STOCK -MORE PROFRESH, UGGUGGU

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APR / MAY 2026

IN THE STUDIO / FAITH

The Life-

Changing

Power of

Faithful

Friendships

AN INTERVIEW WITH

WALKER HAYES AND

CRAIG COOPER

JIM DALY hosted Walker and

Craig in the studio to talk about their

friendship of more than 20 years.

CRAIG: As a bag boy at 17, I

helped a lady unload her groceries.

“That cross around your neck,”

she said, pointing to my necklace,

“is it a decoration . . . or is it real?”

No one had challenged me on that

before. I smiled and laughed and

said, “A little of both, I guess.” I grew

up in church but didn’t have a relationship

with Jesus. For me, it was

just a decoration.

Walker Hayes is a Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter. Craig Cooper is a Bible teacher,

speaker and founding pastor of Redeeming Grace Church in Tennessee. Walker and Craig cowrote

Glad You’re Here: Two unlikely friends breaking bread and fences.

College, freshman year, I heard

the Gospel at a campus ministry. I

realized a cross is not a decoration—

it’s a declaration of God’s love. I gave

my heart to Jesus and was soon on a

trajectory toward ministry.

WALKER: I grew up in church

but eventually became an atheist.

When I met Craig, I was struggling—dropped

from my second

record deal and not making money

at music.

Craig’s wife, Laura, had invited

Laney to church, and I was devastated.

My wife had stopped bugging

me about “Let’s try this church,” or

“I want to be a part of this community.”

I thought, Why did this Laura

lady appear?

Laney dragged me to church

during football season, which was

bad enough, but I also reeked of

whatever I was drinking that day.

Craig beelined for me, shook my

hand super hard, made awkward

eye contact and said, “I’m glad

you’re here.” I was intrigued. In

a small way, I felt accepted.

Listen to Walker Hayes

and Craig Cooper’s full

interview on the app.


Mobile

CREDIT TK

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.


FAITH / PRAYER

Jesus’ Longest Prayer

How John 17 shows the heart of the Gospel

BY SUBBY SZTERSZKY

42

APR / MAY 2026

PRAYER / FAITH

THE GOSPELS portray Jesus as a man of constant prayer.

As the Son of God, He enjoyed perfect communion with His

Father. As the Son of Man, He turned to His Father in whatever

need or situation He faced. The Gospel writers repeatedly

note that Jesus would withdraw to spend time in private

prayer. They also record several of His public prayers, including

His brief model prayer for His disciples, which we call the

Lord’s Prayer.

Jesus’ longest recorded prayer, however, is found only

in John’s Gospel, taking up the entire 17th chapter. Often

referred to as Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, it might just as fittingly

be called the true Lord’s Prayer.

The Lord began by praying for himself, then for His disciples,

and finally for all believers, including us. Over the course

of this prayer, Jesus described His relationship with His Father

and with His disciples; He outlined the purpose and outcome

of His mission on Earth; and He offered a brief, authoritative

definition of eternal life.

In a word, Jesus laid bare the heart of the Gospel, as only

He could.

ADOBE STOCK - IPOPBA, TWINS DESIGN STUDIO


FAITH / PRAYER

Jesus prays for himself

John 17:1-5

After the Last Supper, Jesus made

His way with His disciples to the

Garden of Gethsemane, where

He would be arrested. The Lord

used that walk as a final teaching

moment to encourage His disciples

and prepare them for what

was coming. At the end of this final

discourse, recorded in John 13-16,

Jesus looked up to heaven and

prayed this prayer.

Unlike the prayer in the garden,

in which Jesus poured out His

anguished soul to His Father, this

is a calm yet impassioned prayer

that begins with the subject of

glory. Looking ahead to His sacrificial

death, Jesus asks His Father to

glorify Him so that He might glorify

the Father. The Lord grounds

this request in the fact that God had

given Him authority over all people,

so that He might give eternal life to

everyone God had given Him.

What follows is the simplest yet

most profound definition of eternal

life, according to Jesus: “And this

is eternal life, that they know you,

the only true God, and Jesus Christ

whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

The Lord concludes this opening

portion by returning to the subject

of glory. Jesus had glorified His

Father while on Earth by completing

everything the Father had given

Him to do. Now, looking ahead

to His resurrection, Jesus asks the

Father to glorify Him in His presence,

with the same glory they had

shared since before they created

the universe.

Such astounding truths,

expressed in so few words, were

all that was needed between Jesus

and His Father. However, as part

of a public prayer, they were also

meant for the ears of His disciples.

Through these concise words, Jesus

distills the essence of who He is as

the Son of God, and what He came

to do as the Son of Man.

Jesus prays for His

disciples

John 17:6-19

Having prayed for himself, Jesus

shifts His focus to His disciples,

praying over them, as we might

describe it. The Lord refers to them

as those whom the Father gave Him

out of the world. He advocates for

them, that they have kept His word,

and that they know He came from

the Father and was sent by Him.

Jesus then prays at some length

for everything His disciples will

need after He leaves the world and

returns to the Father. He prays for

their protection, unity, joy and

sanctification. The Lord clarifies

that He’s not praying for the world

in general, but specifically for

these individuals whom the Father

has given Him. This is because

they belong equally to the Father

and the Son, and Jesus is glorified

in them.

While the Lord was with His disciples,

He protected them in His

Father’s name, or authority, so that

none of them were lost, except for

Judas (whom Jesus calls the son of

destruction) so that the Scripture

might be fulfilled. Now that Jesus

is leaving, He commends the disciples

to His Father’s powerful

protection, noting that they are not

of the world and are thus hated by

it, just as He is.

At this point, Jesus makes a vital

distinction: He is not asking God

to remove His disciples out of the

world to safety, but rather that God

would protect them from the evil

one. The Lord reiterates that just as

the Father sent Him into the world,

so He is sending His disciples into

the world. For the disciples to fulfill

this Great Commission, Jesus

promises to sanctify himself, so that

they in turn might be sanctified by

the truth.

To be sanctified means to be

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APR / MAY 2026

PRAYER / FAITH

Until the end of time, Jesus has

committed himself to care for us and

intercede for us with His Father.

set apart to God for service, being

reshaped in the process to be more

and more like Him. How will this

happen? Jesus gives the succinct

answer: “Sanctify them in the truth;

your word is truth” (John 17:17). It

is only by reading, studying, meditating,

obeying and delighting

in the Scriptures that we are conformed

to the image of our Lord.

Along with these requests for His

disciples, Jesus asks His Father for

two further blessings.

First, He prays for unity, that His

disciples might be of one mind and

heart, just as Jesus and His Father

are. Next, He states the goal of His

prayer is to share His joy with His

disciples: “But now I am coming to

you, and these things I speak in the

world, that they may have my joy

fulfilled in themselves” (John 17:13).

Jesus prays for all

believers

John 17:20-26

The things Jesus requested from

His Father on behalf of His disciples

weren’t just for them, but for

all believers, including us. The Lord

makes this clear as He widens the

scope of His prayer: “I do not ask

for these only, but also for those

who will believe in me through

their word” (John 17:20).

This prayer extends from the

birth of the church to the present

day—2,000 years and counting—to

everyone who has ever, or will ever,

come to faith in Jesus through the

message of the Gospel.

Jesus specifically extends His

prayer for unity to all believers, and

not only that we’d be one, just as He

and the Father are one. The Lord

also asks that all believers would

be in Jesus and in the Father, just

as the Father is in Jesus and Jesus

is in His disciples through the Holy

Spirit. This perfect, reciprocal network

of deepest intimacy will show

the world that God has sent Jesus

and that He loves all believers the

same way He loves His Son.

The Lord concludes His prayer

with a most personal and heartfelt

request. He tells His Father that He

wants all believers—that is, every

person whom the Father has given

Him—to be with Him and see His

glory, which the Father gave Him

in love before the creation of the

world. To that end, Jesus commits

himself to making His Father

known to all believers for all time:

“I made known to them your name,

and I will continue to make it

known, that the love with which

you have loved me may be in them,

and I in them” (John 17:26).

It’s no wonder the apostle John,

guided by the Holy Spirit, preserved

this lengthy prayer of Jesus in full.

In encapsulated form, the prayer

offers Jesus’ own testimony to

the core truths of the Gospel. The

Father and the Son (together with

the Holy Spirit) have shared a glorious,

loving relationship since before

they created the cosmos. The Father

sent His Son into the world, so that

all who believe in Him might have

eternal life, defined as knowing

the Father and the Son and being

united with them and each other in

an eternal bond of love.

Until the end of time, Jesus has

committed himself to care for us

and intercede for us with His Father.

This High Priestly Prayer serves

as a prototype and model for the

nature of Jesus’ intercession on

our behalf. Since the Father always

listens to His Son, we can be confident

that everything Jesus asked

in this prayer will be done for us

who believe in Him. It will do much

for our hearts, minds and spirits to

read this prayer often and meditate

on its wonderful truths.

Subby Szterszky is the managing editor of

Focus on Faith and Culture, an e-newsletter

produced by Focus on the Family Canada.

© 2025 Focus on the Family (Canada)

Association. All rights reserved.


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