Don't go overboard in praising required behavior: 'We have only done our duty' (Luke 17:10). But do go overboard when your child confesses the truth, repents honestly, takes chances, and loves openly. Praise the developing character in your child as it emerges in active, loving, responsible behavior.

Dating should be a part of your life, not your life a part of dating. There is more to life than finding a date.

For someone's character to grow, it has to be free from internal attack. Falling down never stopped children from developing. But getting yelled at, criticized, and put down can stop them for life.

Everything has seasons, and we have to be able to recognize when something's time has passed and be able to move into the next season. Everything that is alive requires pruning as well, which is a great metaphor for endings.

Being right can never compete with doing well.

In the end, as a leader, you are always going to get a combination of two things: what you create and what you allow.

The extent to which two people in a relationship can bring up and resolve issues is a critical marker of the soundness of a relationship.