In an article originally published last October, a Harvard study found that children who were exposed to religion as they were growing up were more likely to be healthier and have a higher degree of well-being as young adults, when compared to those that do not.

Yearly, as the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season approaches, I begin to reflect on my role as a husband and father, questioning if I have done enough to ensure that my family knows that praising God and giving him thanks is something that should be done daily and not just during the holiday season.

One night, my family was watching a classic family movie that spans time, “The Wizard of Oz.” The endearing through-line – “There’s no place like home! There’s no place like home!” – played over and over.

Disillusionment is a feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be. Disillusionment can be cyc­lical, occurring hourly, daily, weekly or monthly, and it can be brief or linger depending on our response to it.

Ever wonder what heaven and dirty diapers have to do with each other? Me neither … until now. “Imagine someone looking at your family and seeing a glimpse of heaven.” When I heard this in the priest’s homily on Sunday, I didn’t know whether I should laugh, cry or roll my eyes.

My baby recently turned 1. It’s hard to believe that my sweet “Happy Face,” as I call her, has reached the milestone. Along with her first birthday came a few other milestones: First steps and the addition of “Mama” to her baby vocabulary.

There is more to us than meets the eye. We are more than just flesh and blood; we are soul and spirit. So, the day we become part of the body of Christ through the sacrament of baptism is just as important as the day we are born.

Parenting can sometimes be so hectic that we end up sacrificing relationships with others outside of our day-to-day scope. I am so grateful and blessed that I have someone in my life who understands and appreciates all of that, and who reaches out to me every week to make sure I’m okay.

One night, my daughters were fighting with each other, like most sisters do. Although a natural part of life, I told them that the fighting was not Jesus-like and very “ugly.” My daughters started to cry and asked me, “Why would you say we are ugly?”  I ensured both of them that they were beautiful creatures of God. Yet, in this moment of fighting, their souls – or their life beings – were “ugly,” which was not aligned with Jesus and his teachings.

What kind of country are we living in that something as vile, risky and life-altering as abortion is celebrated and encouraged? It is bad enough that adults are lured into having abortions, but to brainwash young women into joining this murderous cult is really alarming.

As I crossed over the levee on my morning run, my eyes landed on the glimpse of a rainbow glowing between dark clouds.  It was so surprisingly beautiful and special that I felt a blessing had come to me. I felt the magnitude of God’s presence. 

There’s a quote I’ve been reflecting on a lot lately, and it goes like this: “If it’s come into your life, it means you’re ready to receive it.” This sounds good and fine when things are going well in life, but what about when things aren’t? We can double tap our thumbs on the inspirational quotes that pop up in our social media feeds all day, but, sometimes, these light-hearted sayings are harder to accept during tough times.

In bringing my family and, especially, my kids closer to the church, I have found that I am not alone in guiding them. It is wonderful to have grandparents, friends and family nearby to pick up the kids from school or if one of them is burning up with a fever. Otherwise, you would have to leave work at the last minute, which usually is impossible because of commitments.

In this age of “constant communication,” it seems like we have less and less of it on a quality level.  How many times have you had a texting “conversation” for 30 minutes that could have taken five minutes if you had spoken by phone?  When my children are making plans with their friends and texting back and forth, I will say, “How about if you just give him/her a call to be sure you are both clear about the plans?”

As a new school year begins, kids and adults alike are scrambling to master new schedules and face new challenges. Some approach this task with eager anticipation, others with frustration and perseverance.

“How many of you say: I should like to see His face, His garments, His shoes. You do see Him, you touch Him, you eat Him. He gives Himself to you, not only that you may see Him, but also to be your food and nourishment.” – St. John Chrysostom

At a recent companywide meeting, which focused on ways the company could improve, there became a clear emphasis on the well-being of each employee.

I’ve only been married for a couple of months, but the Lord has truly shown my husband and me the power of each other and the power of praying together. This took me a few years to realize that the Lord has provided for me every step of the way.

Our Lord allows things to happen for our own good, even though it doesn’t always seem that way. In the last few weeks, I’ve had some clear reminders that God is always watching out for us.