Focus on the Family Commentary

Almost every marriage in crisis shares the same problem – one spouse blames their own poor behavior on their spouse. It kills relationships. But it doesn't have to be that way. Jim Daly shares how to have healthy conflict in your marriage. (Original air date: Oct. 22, 2014)

Flexibility is one of the most important keys to success. Jim Daly shares a story about the popular child's toy Play Doh that illustrates why success isn't always a straight line.

The phrase "Merry Christmas" first became popular in 1843 when Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol" was published. Jim Daly shares the beautiful message we communicate to each other every time we say, "Merry Christmas!" (Original air date: Dec. 25, 2018)

We overlook heroism when it's understated. Christmas is a wonderful time to remember that greatness often comes quietly. Jim Daly shares about the unlikely hero you may have overlooked in the classic movie "It's a Wonderful Life." (Original air date: Dec. 19, 2018)

Hall of Fame golf teacher Butch Harmon tells his students, "Feel and real are not the same." That's true in golf. That's true in life. Jim Daly explains why living according to what we feel is only a good idea when we have a moral compass to guide us.

They say eyes are the window to the soul. Men, if that's true, then what are your wife's eyes telling you? Jim Daly explains why what you see in her eyes might very well depend on what she sees in yours.

If you've lost a loved one recently, the holidays could be a painful time for you. Jim Daly shares why good memories are a like a pathway through grief. (Original air date: Dec. 11, 2018)

Has your marriage been rocked by adversity? Reconciling with your spouse may not be easy. But there is a lot you can do to create a "new normal." Jim Daly explains. (Original air date: Dec. 2, 2014)

Who do you turn to for wisdom? Jim Daly explains why the wisest people are those who listen to others.

The presidential race may be over, but disagreement about the results can become a big problem when families reunite for Christmas. Jim Daly shares how to prevent political arguments from wreaking havoc on your Christmas. (Original air date: Dec. 20, 2016)

What's your favorite Christmas movie? Jim Daly shares why the original biblical account is still the greatest story ever told.

Jim Daly shares creative ideas for building a stronger relationship with your kids. (Original air date: Dec. 30, 2013)

Every couple wants a loving marriage that'll endure for the long haul. So, it's worth asking, "Why do so few relationships seem to experience that kind of genuine intimacy?" Jim Daly answers that question and offers solutions. (Original air date: Sept. 17, 2014)

Kids hope Santa brings lots of toys for Christmas. But parents might want to encourage Santa to be a little stingier this year. Jim Daly explains why the reason for the season isn't something you find under a mountain of toys. (Original air date: Dec. 17, 2019)

What is human life worth? Jim Daly explains that for all people to be equally valuable there must be something about every single person that must be equally true.

What's your greatest Christmas memory? Jim Daly explains how to create lasting memories by not cleaning up wrapping paper around the tree, or dishes from the Christmas meal too quickly.

One of the survivors of the attack at Pearl Harbor was a young sailor named Jim Downing. He risked his life to save others. But he did something else that was equally heroic. Jim Daly shares his story. (Original air date: Dec. 7, 2018)

Have you ever gotten a Christmas present that you didn't like? Jim Daly shares why a gift's true value is found not on a price tag, but in the heart of the one who gives. (Original airdate: Dec. 6, 2019)

Are we here by accident? Are people nothing more than biological machines that live and die? Jim Daly explains why only human beings have the capacity for faith, self-reflection, and worship.

Building a strong family isn't rocket science, but it does take practice. Jim Daly shares a simple idea for strengthening your family's muscle memory. (Original airdate: July 26, 2017)

Do you and your spouse feel like lovers on a journey through life together? Or married roommates? Jim Daly explains how to turn your marriage into a romance instead of a business arrangement.

Have you ever spent time with good friends and felt happier, more positive, and more alive? Jim Daly shares why good relationships improve our health and longevity. (Original airdate: March 4, 2016)

In some parts of the culture, manhood itself is under attack. Jim Daly explains why manhood is not the source of society's problems. It's part of the solution. (Original airdate: Jan. 28, 2019)

Before America was founded, the Pilgrims expressed gratitude to God for His many blessings ... even when life was hard. Jim Daly explains why Thanksgiving is not something you feel, but something you do. (Original airdate: Nov. 28, 2019)

Overall good health is not just a function of physical well-being, but of spiritual well-being. Jim Daly shares why a happy, healthy life isn't about only living a long time. It's about the quality you pour into those years.

When you imagine the founding of America, the men who created and established the colonies get most of the credit. Jim Daly shares why, without women and the institution of marriage, our nation may have never gotten off the ground. (Original airdate: Nov. 24, 2016)

In an age when technology connects us more than any previous generation, teenagers are lonelier and more disconnected than ever. Jim Daly shares why when it comes to your child's digital loneliness, the only solution is human-to-human contact.

Most of us are in a hurry. We're scrambling to get the next thing checked off our to-do list. Jim Daly explains why even good things can become the enemy of the best things – like our relationships. (Original airdate: June 27, 2017)

If you're single and on the hunt for Mr. or Mrs. Right, then you know the dating scene can be tricky. Jim Daly explains why the best way to navigate relationships with others is to first concentrate on your relationship with yourself. (Original airdate: Jan. 12, 2012)

Suicide is a growing problem among young people between the ages of 18 and 24. Jim Daly shares how to spot signs of chronic depression, substance abuse, or social isolation.

All across the country, households with a teenager are fighting the same battle. It's called "The Thermostat War." Jim Daly shares how to solve that conflict, and any other you're battling at home. (Original airdate: Dec. 19, 2017)

What does it take to win at the game of life? Jim Daly shares a story about Italian bobsledder Eugenio Monti that illustrates why being a champion takes more than skill – it takes character.

Dating relationships can fail for many reasons. Jim Daly explains why one of the most often overlooked ones is the present-day influence of past wounds. (Original air date: May 10, 2012)

Are you doing what's right for your marriage, for your children, and for your career, but feel like nothing good is happening? Jim Daly explains why sometimes you have to keep doing what's right even when what's right doesn't seem to be working.

There's a breakdown in our nation's communication. Some speak the language of science. Others speak the language of virtue and morality. Jim Daly explains how those differences influence everything you think and everything you do. (Original air date: Nov. 16, 2017)

Childhood is a time when boys and girls are supposed to dream big. That offers parents a golden opportunity. Jim Daly explains how to engage your children through their dreams, instead of yours.

Becoming a stepparent can be rewarding. But it can also be challenging. Jim Daly shares how to build a relationship with your step-kids when they resist drawing closer to you. (Original air date: Aug. 27, 2014)

Is marriage supposed to make you happy? The answer may surprise you. Jim Daly shares how to make yourself and your marriage happier.

Do you find it difficult to connect with your child on a meaningful level? It's easier than you might think. Jim Daly will give you a great place to start. (Original airdate: Dec. 23, 2013)

Modern society discourages waiting. We love to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible and don't like to wait for good things to come to us. Jim Daly explains why joy is often found in the waiting.

If you've been married for long, then you know husbands and wives usually see the world quite differently. The key to a happy relationship is learning to give equal weight to both perspectives. Jim Daly shares how. (Original airdate: Sept. 8, 2014)

Morality usually gets a bad rap in the culture. Jim Daly explains why it plays a crucial role in our nation's well-being by anchoring our society in values that transcend it.

Negative political ads dominate the airwaves. Children are often exposed to these attack ads as well. Jim Daly shares how to introduce your children to the political process in a way that makes them stronger, wiser, and more grateful for their country.

Every couple gets angry with each other from time to time. But some marriages sink under the weight of unresolved anger that hides below the surface. Jim Daly shares how to heal that problem. (Original airdate: Oct. 21, 2014)

Will angry protesters ever work as hard at contributing something positive to the world as they do at tearing things down? Jim Daly explains why anybody can destroy something, but it takes a person of character to go out and build something.

Texting and driving is a problem among all age groups, but it's especially common among teenagers. Is there anything parents can do to help curb this trend? Jim Daly shares helpful answers. (Original airdate: Feb. 7, 2014)

What kind of world do you want to live in? Jim Daly explains how to create the world you want by participating in it.

Data shows that one in seven adults between the ages of 18 and 25 are at high risk for some kind of addiction – drugs, alcohol, gambling, even shopping or video games. Jim Daly shares how to spot a problem in yourself and others.

If you're having trouble in your marriage, you may be thinking: "It's my spouse who needs to change." But what if changes you make can influence your marriage in a good direction? Jim Daly shares how. (Original air date: Oct. 6, 2014)

After a political revolution in Romania in the 1990s, 170,000 infants, toddlers, and teenagers were housed in government-run institutions known as "child gulags." Find out what happened to those children and what the data teaches us about the importance of family.