Programs And Podcasts

Two words, but a valuable reminder about how important Mom is and why she is. I had occasion to stay at my son and daughter-in-law's house while I recovered from a painful injury. They set me up with a wonderful little "apartment" in their basement - recliner, remotes (of course), kitchenette. And like all the babies in our family, a night monitor. Now, I needed some help in the middle of the night, but I hadn't touched the pager. Suddenly, I hear my daughter-in-law's feet coming down the stairs. In my 3:00 AM haze, I said, "But how did you know?" She smiled and gave those two little words: "Mom ears."

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Mom Ears."

There's something a lot of us have to celebrate in the mother that God put in our life. Those Mom-ears who heard our silent cries over the years, who heard our need when others would only see our deed. Who heard the unspoken fears, the unspoken pain, and carried them to the throne of God. Sadly, mom-ears have also heard mean words that they didn't deserve, angry words that left a scar, rebellious words because we didn't want to hear what we now know was wisdom. But somehow, a Mom heart could reach for some of God's amazing grace, and forgive, even though wounded.

As a dad, I learned early how important it was for me to seek and respect what my wife heard in our kids, believe me. Those times when I got home and I was ready to drop a bomb on a disobedient child, she would intervene with "actionable intel" of what was going on behind the scenes in their life. I'm not sure moms fully know their massive power to define their child's life for better or worse.

Proverbs 31:26 says, "She speaks with wisdom on her tongue." And in a verse worth considering, our word for today from the Word of God in Proverbs 14:1 it says, "The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down."

Sure, I know moms who've turned their God-given Mom-ears to the seductive song of our world, "all about me." And their children languish under the awful cloud of "I'm not worth much. My Mom doesn't think so." Deafened moms can't hear themselves nagging, controlling, criticizing, diminishing - hoping to make a "super kid" and crushing them in the process.

The Mom-ears that have tended to miss their children's cries are those who stopped listening to the One who gave her those children. Psalm 127:3 says, "Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him." It's so easy to succumb to the selfie drumbeat of "my rights, my pleasure, my flourishing." And a sort of deafness can grow. Deaf to those quiet little cries in the night, the intuition to drop everything and listen to someone I love. The Heavenly Father's promptings as He (in the words of the Bible) "gently leads those who have young" (Isaiah 40:11).

But thank God many of us were blessed, not with a perfect mom, but with a mother whose ears truly heard us. If you have a mom with those wonderful "ears," would you tell her how her finely-tuned heart shaped your life and changed your life while you can.

If you're a Mom who wants to have better ears for your children, just know there's amazing power to do that. In the Jesus whose relentless love led Him to die for our sins, which are the great relationship-wreckers. There is no greater life-force on earth than a woman whose ears are always open to the voice of God and the voices of those she loves.

And for the one who listens to all this with little to celebrate - because your Mom really wasn't one - there is a higher hope. Because God has said, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion for the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will never forget. See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands" (Isaiah 49:15-16). That's right, with nail prints.

His ears listen all day, al

The Declaration of Independence proclaims that “all men are created equal” and “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” For generations, those hallowed words inspired not only Americans but millions around the globe. Yet today, many Americans are skeptical or confused about the Declaration’s key claims. Dr. John G. West will join us to explore the original meaning of the Declaration and show how its propositions drew support from both the Bible and early modern science.

Become a Parshall Partner: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/inthemarket/partners

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life without God eventually proves empty and meaningless, no matter our accomplishments or possessions. Dr. Tony Evans explains how a divine perspective leads to a fulfilling present and an eternal future.

Is it possible to help your adult children in a way that actually keeps them from growing?

It’s a difficult question, but an important one. Many parents want to support their children well, especially when their children face setbacks, financial stress, or uncertain times. Yet the way we offer help can shape not only their circumstances, but also their character.

The goal isn’t simply to make life easier. It’s to help in ways that strengthen them rather than sideline them.

For many parents, this is a tender place to stand. You love your children deeply. You want to see them flourish. And when they struggle, every instinct says, Step in and fix it.

That instinct often comes from a good place. But even good instincts need wisdom.

Consider a baby bird hatching from its shell. It may seem compassionate to help it break free, but if you intervene too soon, the bird may not survive. The struggle of pushing through the shell is essential. It develops the strength and coordination needed for life outside the egg.

The struggle isn’t the problem. It’s part of the preparation. In the same way, when we remove every difficulty from our children’s lives, we may step in at the very moment when growth is meant to happen.

Most parental help begins with simple acts of care:

None of these is inherently wrong. In many cases, they are loving and appropriate responses.

But over time, those moments can accumulate. And eventually the question changes from How can I help? to Is this actually helping?

Are you helping them move forward—or delaying lessons they need to learn? Are you offering support—or carrying responsibilities that now belong to them?

That tension is real, and one of the hardest parts of parenting adult children is knowing when to step back.

Healthy support should encourage progress, not prolong immaturity. This is an act of stewardship—not only of your resources, but of their formation.

The goal is not to eliminate every hardship. Often, maturity takes root in the soil of challenge. Consider tying support to clear next steps, such as:

Support like this doesn’t replace responsibility. It reinforces it.

An adult child living at home is not automatically a sign of failure.

Throughout history, including biblical times, multigenerational living was common and remains normal in many cultures today.

The better question is not Where are they living? But are they growing in responsibility? Are they contributing? Learning? Planning? Taking steps toward independence?

Those are the indicators that matter most.

Scripture offers a helpful framework for discerning when to step in and when to step back. 

Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens.” Yet Galatians 6:5 says, “For each will have to bear his own load.”

So which is it? The answer is both.

A burden is something too heavy to carry alone—a crisis, deep hardship, or overwhelming circumstance. A load is the ordinary responsibility each person is meant to carry—daily choices, obligations, and personal stewardship.

This distinction is helpfully explained in

Believers are drawn to worship. Love compels us. But we’re also drawn to God when life gives us nowhere else to go. When trials bring us to our knees, that’s the perfect position to pray. We can waste time focusing on “why” . . . asking why it happened. But today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points us to “Who” . . . Who is the One who has the power and the desire to get us through the mess we’re in. Good encouragement is coming our way.

—

Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know (most of) the right answers for your heart's questions—but laundry piles, secret shame, and nonstop noise keep drowning them out. Author Andrea Griffith gets brutally honest about hiding sin, chasing control, and what finally broke her cycle of shame. Rather than fronting a polished faith, find the space Scripture meets real life and freedom starts by dragging what’s hidden into the light.

Show Notes and Resources

• Center: Wrapping your life around the One who Matters Most by Andrea Griffith and more studies→ thechurchhub.org

• Become a monthly partner with FamilyLife Today — your gift is matched for a full year (double your impact!) 

• Thanks to the Christian Standard Bible for sponsoring this episode. Learn more at CSBible.com.
• Follow us on all social platforms: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
• Find resources from our podcast at shop.familylife.com.
• Download FamilyLife's app!
• Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
• Check out all the FamilyLife's podcasts on the FamilyLife Podcast Network

See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy