Steve Kroening is a staff writer for the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. He has been a professional writer for 35 years and is the author of Make Mama Happy: Timeless Wisdom for Men Who Want an Extraordinary Marriage, and the blog TrueFantasy.org. He has written thousands of articles for various publications and worked in an addiction ministry for 12 years. He and his wife, Beth, also serve as domestic missionaries in Jasper, Georgia.
Dr. James Dobson was keenly aware of the spiritual battles that occur in marriage. He also taught about the benefits of this sacred institution when both husband and wife remain aligned with biblical teaching. Dr. Dobson said, “When a husband and wife are deeply committed to Jesus Christ, they enjoy enormous advantages over a family with no spiritual dimension.”
Prayer is not a last resort for the powerless; it’s an appeal to the One who holds power over all things. For twenty-five years, Shirley Dobson faithfully served as chair of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, helping to expand and strengthen this nationwide movement. Her leadership reminded millions that communing with our Savior is not symbolic—it is transformational.
Some days might seem as if you’ve entered a race you never were meant to run. The alarm goes off in the morning, and you already feel behind. There are lunches to pack, clothes to fold, texts to answer, errands to run, and little hearts to guide. By noon, stress can start to flare up. By nighttime, you may wonder if you did any of your tasks well.
On what would have been his 90th birthday, we don’t just remember a broadcaster or an author. We remember a man who helped parents love better, live braver, and aim higher—a man who impacted generations.
Raising children today feels harder than it did even a few years ago, doesn’t it? You’re not only protecting your son or daughter from what is happening at school or in the neighborhood. Now you’re navigating smartphones, social media, gaming platforms, and a culture that moves at digital speed and is determined to pull your kids into a corrupt secular worldview. Many Christian parents feel fatigued. The rules keep changing. The platforms continue to multiply. And just when you think you understand the landscape, artificial intelligence appears and brings a whole new level of complexity to parenting.
When Coach John Wooden retired from basketball in 1975, he had every reason to savor the spotlight. Yet when Dr. James Dobson asked what he missed most after stepping away from the game, what Coach Wooden said in response is important for every Christian parent to remember. He didn’t say he missed the roar of the crowd. Nor did he mention the trophies, banners, or championships. He said he missed the practices. He longed for the teaching. That statement reveals everything about why John Wooden was a champion—and why his example matters so much for moms and dads today.
Does your marriage sometimes feel like a tug-of-war? You want to be heard. You want to be valued. You want your husband to understand you. But instead of closeness, you feel tension. Instead of warmth, there is distance. And when you read passages in Scripture that instruct wives to “submit” or “respect,” something inside you tightens. It feels unfair, risky, and maybe even impossible.
Few things feel heavier than wanting to fight for your marriage when your spouse seems distant and unwilling. You may feel alone, exhausted, and unsure where to begin. It’s tempting to believe that if your mate’s heart has hardened, nothing can change at all. But Scripture offers a different kind of hope. While you can’t control another person, there are some things you can do to influence him or her.
When children fall and scrape their knees, parents typically meet their cries of pain with love and attention. Hugs, kind words, and a Band-Aid help soften the blow and ease the discomfort. But what should parents do when their adult sons and daughters experience heartache and anguish? How can parents help them through the difficult times that are sure to come?
