Kate Motaung

We plan to go on dates, but a child gets sick, or something comes up at work. We plan to make communication a priority, but it can be easy to adopt a “we will do it later” attitude, which can quickly put your marriage on the back burner. We plan to make intimacy a priority, but it gets easy to say “Later when things settle down” or “We are just too tired.” If your marriage is struggling, please read

Divorce is a painful event, bringing with it enormous change, transition, and emotional upheaval. And that doesn’t just apply to parents, but children as well. Here are some ways that children of divorce may feel and how parents can help them through it. Ways to Help Children of Divorce Taking sides Children of divorce may defend one parent or another. Particularly when a child is old enough to understand some of what has happened to cause the divorce, he

Relationships require constant work, and the work of love is never really over. This is never truer than when it comes to dealing with the people closest to us, including our kids. Our children are a gift from the Lord. The Bible tells us this when it says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.” (Psalm 127:3 ESV) Of course, if we are honest with ourselves, we may not always feel

In today’s world, it can feel like you may need what others would define as “a problem” in order to seek out professional counseling. However, that is not true. Family issues can be everything from a series of communication breakdowns to a new developmental stage or continual fighting between siblings. Times of transition such as a job change, big move, the blending of families, or the birth of a child can also create family issues that can be worked

Forgiveness is an abiding theme that God has woven throughout His Word. We embrace it as an immutable tenet of our life of faith in Christ. It is the perfect expression of who God is, as love. The Father gave His best, in the person of His only Son and our Savior. Jesus Christ, sacrificed His life, remitting humanity’s sin, so that we could joyfully abide in fellowship, indwelt by His Spirit in this life, and eternally, face to

Are you single, but not loving the season of singleness you’re in? Whether you have never been married before, or you are newly single after a breakup, divorce, or death, you can learn the tips for being single and loving it. Here are seven encouraging tips for you. Apply these tips for greater satisfaction in your singleness, no matter how long that season lasts. 1. View singleness as an opportunity rather than a burden. To the unmarried and the

Depression, anxiety, and many other mental health disorders have been reportedly on the rise in recent years. More and more adults are opening up to their families, friends, and doctors about their internal struggles. So, where do discussions about children’s mental health fit into the larger conversation? Children, just like adults, can be at risk for any number of mental health conditions. The prevalence of ADD, ADHD, and OCD among school-aged children tends to be widely accepted these days.

In a culture of all things anti-aging. In a culture of all things not pretty enough, not thin enough, not kind enough, not gracious enough, not disciplined enough. As women, this not-enough-ness is enough to destroy our beauty and we aren’t even aware of the destruction. It can be a sad fate to live this life without ever knowing our place and our presence of beauty in the world. Much of this has to do with learning to define

A toxic relationship is “any relationship [between two people] who don’t support each other, where there’s conflict and one seeks to undermine the other, where there’s competition, where there’s disrespect and a lack of cohesiveness” (Dr. Lillian Glass, 1955). Toxic relationships are not limited to romantic partnerships. They can exist in families, between friends, and in the workplace as well. The difference between a healthy and a toxic relationship In a healthy relationship both people enjoy each other’s company,

If you’ve ever heard, “You don’t listen,” when you are engaged in a conflict with your spouse, remember that listening is a learned skill – and it’s not one that many of us do well. However, becoming a more engaged, present listener is something we can improve on over time, and it can bring much-needed healing and growth to our relationships. To become a better listener, active listening is key. Active listening can be defined as listening with all

Once you were a little child whose parents arranged for your meals, your clothes, your education, on and on the list could go. You never doubted that your mom or dad would be able to meet all your needs. They set you off into life with the best tools they could and seemed so capable. Now you are noticing that their capability seems to be slipping. It worries you to realize that you need to care for your parents

Love exists at the core of every romantic relationship. Often first built on an attraction, love solidifies and connects two people in a way that creates a new connection and family. This is the process of “the two becoming one” as the Bible puts it. To understand this, researchers have long tried to find ways of codifying and measuring what love is. We can attempt to describe the feeling of love, but it’s often like trying to describe a