Posts by Jeffrey Arrowood
Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me
Necessary Conversations As we approach Christmas our thoughts are drawn to the comfortable sights and sounds of the holiday. As followers of Jesus, we remember the “reason for the season” by reflecting on Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. Another thing that Christmas should remind us of, however, is that the manger that the baby Jesus was…
Read MoreCivility: Time for a Comeback
Download the PDF A recent experience literally made me stop in my tracks in disbelief. While on my nightly walk, I noticed a group of grade school children arguing in a neighbor’s yard. Their voices were extremely angry as they stood face to face poised for physical combat. Unmistakably, a line had been drawn about…
Read MoreValuing Being More Than Doing
Download the PDF A mother’s wisdom and love are never wasted. It can be so easy to fall into a utilitarian way of valuing ourselves and others. Utilitarianism is a philosophy that values people based solely on what they can contribute to society. Accomplishments become a sign of value. Our culture may not explicitly say…
Read MoreHaving Necessary Conversations About Human Sexuality
Necessary Conversations As a parent of a son and daughter, both in middle school, I am deeply concerned about the perception of sexuality that my children are absorbing through the culture they are immersed in. The sexual revolution has caused us to accept a number of assumptions about sexuality rather than the good news that…
Read MoreCan You Celebrate Your Family in the Face of Imperfection?
Download the PDF Over the past ten months, we have reflected on various themes about what it means to be a family. In doing so, we have been joining the Church in an ongoing reflection. This reflection could be said to begin with Pope Saint John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter Familiaris Consortio, “The Role of…
Read MorePreparing Yourself to Discuss the Deep Moral Issues
If you don’t feel knowledgeable or equipped to discuss the deeper moral issues with your child, don’t worry. You are not alone. Several factors make these moral issues challenging to approach: Catechesis in moral issues has been lacking and even confused since the 1960s. Fully understanding moral theology requires a bit of philosophical knowledge that…
Read MoreHow Can You Run an Ordered Household?
An ordered household is vital for children’s health and thriving. But how can we provide order in our busy, chaotic world? In this article, we explore the solution.
Read MorePhysical Maturity: Setting Standards & Boundaries
Physical maturity according to God’s plan begins with the realization that the body is good. God created the human person as an integration of body and spirit. The body expresses the spirit. So our bodies reveal the “Imago Dei” – the image of God – to the physical world. God calls us to respect both…
Read MoreParenting Virtues That Offer Clear Sight
We’re rolling out weekly parenting tips to help you embrace your role as a parent. Your journey to Christlike parenting begins here. Click here to get them for free! Parents are busy people! Most days, the best you can do is focus on the next thing: work, home, dinner, supervising homework, bedtime routine, bed. It…
Read MoreSpiritual Maturity: Expand Your Faith This Summer – Take a Break from School NOT God
Summer vacation has finally arrived and I bet you are giddy with excitement that your evenings will be free from homework, practice spelling tests and hours of reading assignments. School is out and you have 10 weeks to enjoy a slower pace of life with your kids. As the Bible reminds us in Ecclesiastes Chapter…
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