Something happened inside me when I gave birth to my kids. I became obsessed with keeping peace among them. I wanted to make them stop yelling, stop hitting, stop picking at each other, stop throwing things at one another, stop, stop, stop. But controversy and tension among them happened every day and nothing I did or said took it away.And then, on the radio one day, I heard this quote from Focus on the Family. "If your boys are fighting, they are bonding.

Ever read something that changed your life forever? Bored in study hall one day, I had no idea what was about to happen to me.  I picked up a book, turned a few pages, saw the truth within, and tears began to stream down my face as I saw words that would change me forever.  As I let the truth of the words sink into my soul, they sank further and further.  

Friends, I am ecstatic because Nandi Roszhart is my guest blogger this week. She taught me so much in a 25 minute conversation that I couldn't resist asking her to give us some advice on how love people unlike us. I hope her vulnerability challenges you as it did me!

Has someone you cared about hurt you on a regular basis? How do we love them?  Or...should we even try to love people who don't love us back? 

I was once in a situation where someone close to me provoked me on a daily basis. I wanted to love them freely, but they were controlling, manipulative and insulting. I survived by adopting sarcasm as a second language, avoiding one on one situations with that person, and putting up walls to make me feel as safe possible. To other people, I appeared strong and confident, but on the inside I felt lonely and misunderstood.

Sometimes I live in fear for my children.

Fear they’ll walk the same dreadful path I did. Fear I’m not good enough. Fear I’m not what they need. Fear I don’t measure up to the “got-it-all-together-beloved-mama” label that’s been plastered across my forehead.

It's exhausting, and I just want to do it right.

"It's getting harder and harder for me to give," I confessed to myself. Clayton and I sat across the table from a couple who needed a listening ear. We listened while they talked. We comforted them through their struggles and tears. I was obeying my calling to ministry, but my inner soul wished I could be the one talking and crying.

It was in this moment I realized how dry and empty my own soul felt. I'd just become a mother, and it was proving harder than I thought. Because I didn't love my new calling, I was carrying far too much shame and guilt. I was desperate for help myself. Still, I sat listening and praying to the only One who could help these people because I felt completely incapable.

We want you to beat the odds. We want you to pay attention and choose the right direction. if we should meet you one day, we want to be able to celebrate with you..that you have a good marriage that honors God and shows the world a picture of His love for humanity. We don't want you to miss out on something this awesome..

I wish we could sail through dating to find ourselves on a Caribbean honeymoon carrying no relationship scars or regrets.  But most likely we'll encounter a mistake or two before we get to say "I Do."   So last night I spent the evening with some college ladies sharing four of my relationship blunders, hoping their love lives would benefit.  Here they are: