Settling for Less Years ago my wife and I decided to build an addition on our house for the purpose of having a main-level bedroom for our special needs daughter, who is unable to walk. My initial idea was to add a bedroom off the back of the kitchen. The contractor asked my wife, “What’s your dream?” I began to …
God’s Design: To Need Today marks our eighth session in our series His Needs—Her Needs. It may be beneficial to ask ourselves why we are discussing in depth this subject of relationships between the sexes? Being Fathers of St. Joseph, our spirituality consists of St. Joseph’s four pillars: embrace silence; embrace woman; embrace the child; and embrace charitable authority. Theses …
His Primary, Innate Need It was my junior year in high school that I, measuring 5’1”, took Kim (my eventual wife), 5’9” at the time, to the prom. As with most proms, a professional photographer was on site to capture the moment. When it was our turn to have our photo taken, the photographer asked Kim—with a little too much …
Woman’s Most Natural Desire Great fathers desire with all of their hearts to have great families, and great families usually come from great marriages. Marriage is the trailhead of the family. If we want to be great fathers it is imperative that we strive to become great husbands. One of the first lessons that a husband of greatness learns is …
God’s Theo-Logic: A Plan in the Pain It has been said that there are two times when a man doesn’t understand a woman—before and after marriage. Case in point: Recently, an old friend sent a text describing a bout he had had with his wife. “I lost control with my wife this morning. I yelled at her and pounded the …
Sexual Difference Matters Sexual difference is real. Sexual difference matters. Sexual difference is fundamental to the human being and indicates core ontological essences of both the male and female. I recently attended a piano recital where the nine-year-old son of a friend of mine had to play two songs. The first was a sweet, delicate song titled “The Sun Is …
Uncomfortable Silence Have you ever had the experience in which you have done or said something and the reaction of those around you was expressed by an awkward silence? It’s much like when I feebly attempt to be funny. The only thing more awkward than my ability to tell jokes is the silence that follows them. Or as one editorial …
A Most Complicated Creature A young man is walking along one of Southern California’s sandy beaches with his surfboard. He suddenly spots a bottle that has recently washed up on the beach. It’s obvious it’s been tossed around for a long time. He picks it up and notices that it still has the cork intact. So, being curious about what …
Why Is it So Hard? Years ago, several families, including our own, each comprised of several young, hyper, manic, very hungry children, decided to dine at a local restaurant without making prior reservations. While we waited to be seated, the kids became increasingly irritable and unmanageable. Finally, after being led to our table, the mothers and children attempted to sort …
