Question: I’m a perfectionist. This causes problems with my wife and children who say I am “controlling.” As a Christian I want things to be better, but the harder I try, the worse things get. Answer: Here’s a cautionary tale by a recovering perfectionist. The pursuit of absolute perfection is a false noble cause. The […]
The Counselor: Pursuing peace in divided times
Question: With everything going on in the world, I’m finding I have deep disagreements with people close to me, even those who share my faith. I’m withdrawing from some people because I don’t want to get into certain issues. Any tips for finding common ground, and saving my friendships? Answer: I appreciate (and share in) […]
Preservation and perseverance
With something as scary and unpredictable as a global pandemic, we shouldn’t be surprised when kids have trouble processing it all. In a sense, we are all like children experiencing this for the first time. We are all likely dealing with fear we aren’t talking about. One encouragement for us: God redeeming these otherwise dark […]
The Counselor: Talking to kids about COVID-19
Question: Our kids, who are 7 and 9, are asking questions about what’s going on in the world. Our oldest in particular is quieter than she was a few months ago, and more withdrawn sometimes. We’re wondering if she could be dealing with some fear she’s not talking about. How can we help them? Answer: […]
Don’t grieve alone
We should probably refer to the emotions we are feeling now as “griefs,” rather than simply grief. The griefs we feel related to Covid-19 are complicated; we are grieving the loss of our way of life, the loss of loved ones, and unknown future loss. The most overwhelming grief of all is anticipatory grief, and […]