We've become really good at managing crises, but somewhere along the way, we forgot how to live. In this season premiere, we introduce what it means to restore the lost art of being family—creating homes where a hard life is experienced differently, in secure relationships. This isn't about behavior modification or quick fixes. It's about life cultivation. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, or anyone raising or influencing children, this episode sets the foundation for everything we'll explore together this season. In This Episode, You'll Discover:

• Why modern parenting has become crisis management—and what we're missing
• The Performance/Pain Relief cycle keeping families stuck in survival mode
• How our brains are being shaped by what we practice (survival, striving, or freedom)
• The two lenses: Old Lens (earn, deserve, take) vs. New Lens (trust, receive)
• What Jesus really meant in John 15 about unfruitful branches (spoiler: you're being lifted up, not burned)
• An introduction to the LIF alphabet—a guide to living secure in a struggling world
• One simple practice to begin transformation this week

Quotable Moments "We've become really good problem-solvers. We know how to eliminate threats, but we've forgotten how to LIVE." "We're starving for relational nutrition in the middle of a fast-food feast of standardized success and maximized comfort." "A hard life is experienced differently in secure relationships. We're not offering a life without problems—we're offering a secure place to stand while navigating problems." "Our brains are being built by what we practice. When we practice security, our brains begin to rewire." "Unfruitful living branches are restored; dead branches are removed to protect life. God does not discard the struggling—He tends them back to life." "You are not a dead branch about to be burned. You're a living branch being lifted up." "The way we SEE changes everything." "God won't skip you to get to your children." Three Takeaways

1. We're restoring the lost art of being family. This season is about learning to create homes where a hard life is experienced differently—in secure relationships. Not crisis management, but life cultivation.
2. You're a living branch being lifted up. God doesn't discard the struggling—He tends them back to life. You're not too far gone. You're not failing. You're being repositioned to bear fruit. Trust that.
3. This week: just notice. When you reach for something, ask yourself: Am I reaching from security (trusting and receiving from the Source) or insecurity (trying to earn, deserve, or take what I need)? Awareness is the first step. We're learning this together.

Connect With Us Website: John15Academy.com Email: [email protected] [email protected] Support Our Work This podcast is made possible by listeners like you. We're a donor-supported ministry, and we'd love to have you join our team. Learn more about supporting this work and access additional resources at john15academy.com/give. About This Season Season Seven: Restoring the Lost Art of Being Family is a journey through the LIF (Love Is Fearless) alphabet—a guide to creating homes where a hard life is experienced differently, in secure relationships. Each episode explores the theology, neuroscience, and practical application of living secure in a struggling world. This isn't about behavior modification—it's about transformation. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, or anyone raising or influencing children, we're learning together what it means to refuse to participate in our own demise and actively walk in the transformative power of the life we've been GIVEN.