Tag Archive for: articles

Melanie’s God Conversation: The Night God Met both my Mother and Me

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By: Tania Harris

Melanie’s parents divorced when she was 8 years old and her father moved out. Six years later, her mum was diagnosed with brain cancer. The cancer was aggressive and had already spread through her body. Over the coming year, Melanie’s mum was in and out of hospital, being treated with different therapies but with little success. The cancer was progressing fast and the prognosis was dismal.

Questions now turned to Melanie’s future. She was 14 years old and unable to fend for herself. Living with her father was not an option so the decision was made for Melanie to move in with her Aunt Anni.

Hurting, Angry and Finished with God

From then on, Melanie started visiting her aunt’s home regularly. Aunt Anni was a Christian and took her to church where she heard about God, but it had little – if any – impact on her. She does remember one Sunday though.

On this occasion, an older woman testified to being miraculously healed of breast cancer. While everyone in the congregation celebrated, Melanie was enraged. What kind of God would heal an old woman while leaving a young mother to die and abandon her daughter? God became the ultimate enemy. Every night, Melanie cried into her pillow saturating it with tears of anger and hatred.

That summer, Melanie was sent away to a Christian camp. A day after she arrived, her mother’s condition deteriorated, and she was placed in an induced coma. Knowing that her mother could die at any moment and unable to reach her, the camp was the last place she wanted to be.

The Night God Showed Up

One night at the camp, Melanie couldn’t sleep. Thoughts of her mother’s impending death plagued her. Would she even be able to say goodbye? She stepped outside her tent and began to unleash her pain to God. She had so many questions. “Are you even real? I really hate you for doing this!”

Suddenly through her tears, Melanie had a vision. She saw her mother’s hospital room and knew that Jesus was standing beside her. Written across the scene of the vision like a subtitle was a bible reference: “Luke 23:43.”

Melanie didn’t know the Bible; nor did she know what the verse meant. Afterwards, she returned to the the tent and woke up the girl beside her: “Can you help me find Luke 23:43 in your Bible?”

There they read Luke’s words describing the scene of the two thieves on the cross next to Jesus – and then Jesus’ words to one of them: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Melanie looked at her watch. It was 1:45am. With the vision came a surge of hope. A deep sense of peace and security settled over her whole being. She was not alone. Even though she might be losing her mother, her home and friends, everything was going to be okay. For the first time in a long while, Melanie tucked herself into her sleeping bag and fell soundlessly asleep.

Hope After Goodbye

Next morning, Melanie was woken by one of the camp leaders. Melanie’s dad was on the phone. Her mum had passed away. Melanie had only one question; “What time did she die?” Her dad answered, “1:45am.”

In that moment, Melanie knew God had met her mum. But she also knew that God had met her.

When she arrived home, Melanie’s aunt Anni took her aside and shared her story. At 1.45am the morning her mother had died, Anni had woken to hear God say the same words as Melanie; “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”

It was a turning point for Melanie’s life. All her questions fell away. Her anger dissolved. In the months to come, as she mourned the loss of her mother and faced all the adjustments that had to be made, Melanie was sustained by a deep sense of hope. She had lost her mother, but she had also found faith. She knew that God held both her mother and her in his hands.

Article supplied with thanks to God Conversations.

About the Author: Tania Harris is a pastor, speaker, author and the founder of God Conversations.

Feature image: Supplied

Do You Know Your Child’s Love Language?

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By: Melody Tan

In 1997, Dr Gary Chapman released the book The 5 Love Languages of Children as a follow-up to his bestseller, The Five Love Languages.

The concepts that Dr Chapman shares in his book are essentially about how to increase a child’s sense of self-worth, love, belonging and role in the family. He narrowed down the ways children feel loved to five key ones (not dissimilar from the original). 

While many parents have reported the book has helped children feel more deeply understood, valued and, most of all, loved, Dr Chapman’s work is not without controversy. Critics have pointed out a lack of scientific evidence to support the theory, its vagueness and potential oversimplification of the categories, and the potential for misuse.

There is however, still merit in the ideas behind love languages in that focusing on them can help you strengthen your relationship with your child. The key is to remember, and as pointed out by Dr Chapman himself, even if your child has a dominant love language, they will benefit from all five ways of receiving love. 

It is crucial that parents still practice all five love languages. Show them love in all the languages and then teach them how to use these for themselves. The value is not only for your children but for the people with whom they will live and associate with.

Here’s a bit more about the five love languages for kids: 

1. Words of Affirmation 

Compliment them or their work. Have interactive conversations with them, both sharing your thoughts. These kids may love a good book, thoughtful gifts which include words, and heartfelt messages (think a note in the lunch box). 

2. Acts of Service

Allow them to help you and offer your help whenever appropriate. Thoughtful acts and unexpected assistance can make them feel like you appreciate them. There are lots of practical ways you can show your child you love them without saying a word. 

3. Gifts

Give them something tangible that lets them know you were thinking about them. Something in their favourite colour, animal they love or food they enjoy to show you know what they like. Gifts don’t have to be expensive or even cost at all. Be creative! 

4. Quality Time

Every child wants to connect with their primary caregiver. Quality time doesn’t necessarily look like hours on end of uninterrupted play, but it does require genuine undivided interest to make it count. 

5. Physical Touch 

All children thrive on physical contact. This could be a pat on the back, a hug, holding hands while going on a walk or a game of tickles.

Ultimately, whether or not you fully embrace Dr Chapman’s theory, intentionally expressing love in a variety of meaningful ways can only deepen your connection with your child and help them grow into secure, compassionate individuals who both recognise and generously give love.

Melody Tan is a passionate advocate for empowering mothers through connection, faith and digital engagement. She is project manager of Mums At The Table. She lives in Sydney with her husband and their primary-school-aged son.

Article Supplied with thanks to Sign of The Times Magazine

Feature image: Canva

Single Christian? It’s Going to be OK

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By: Laura Bennett

Valentine’s Day comes and goes with very little fanfare for the unmarried, uncoupled or uninterested, but without fail it fills our feeds with content about the reality of modern relationships and what you’re up against if you want a healthy one.

This week a book landed on my desk: a Christian approach to “bringing your romance fantasies into the real world”. Then, I was sent an article on “heterofatalism” (we’ll get to that), got a link to podcaster’s theories on declining birth rates, was reminded having a boyfriend is embarrassing now, and suffered through ads for whatever they’re doing on the new season of Married at First Sight.

The dating world these days really is a complex one. Even in the Christian sphere, agreed upon boundaries of what we’re looking for, how to behave, views on intimacy and the value of marriage itself are seemingly dissolving.

After overcoming the hurdle of meeting someone online or in person, you have to assess whether their framework for dating and relationships is the same as yours: are they a Christian who’s dismissed “traumatic purity culture” or do they still see sex as “sacred”? What gender roles do they support? Do they value monogamy in dating? Are they interested in marriage or is it too traditional for them? Can we just have fun hanging out? You cannot assume anything.

As a church-raised teen, marriage was painted as the pathway to greater purpose, family, sex and experiencing God’s ideal relational framework. If you weren’t married, the implication was you should prepare yourself for an unfinished form of life: childless, untouched and alone.

However, once you reach 25 and don’t have a husband and four kids, there’s a world beyond the one you were told was coming that you can’t ignore and have to figure out how to handle. You find joy in singleness. You find some God-fearing women chose solo IVF, adoption or fostering to have kids. That not all “Christian” men and women are nice people who make ideal partners. That independence isn’t horrible, and that in our Western society a spouse may help in having financial security but isn’t a necessity. We haven’t even touched on the variety of views on sex.

It’s a newfound awareness that can work against us: if we don’t “have to” have marriage anymore, do we still want it?

Yes, there’s still the predominant norm of school, study, job, partner, kids, holiday but there’s a growing “rebellion” against that and less judgement allowed of those who defect. We can be lazy in dating because, well, what does it matter if it goes nowhere?

Which brings me to “heterofatalism” – a phenomenon contributing to aforementioned defection.

The term expands on scholar Asa Sersin’s original definition of “heteropessimism” reflecting the resigned experience of – largely women – dealing with their coexisting desire for a male partner and disappointment in the process of finding one. 

A few things need to be addressed here:

Can we ditch the idea that wanting a relationship is “embarrassing”?

You don’t need to overcome your very human, very God-given need for connection, community and companionship. It doesn’t have to be found in a romantic context, but it’s OK if you want it to be found there. Total self-sufficiency is not our end goal.

In “heterofatalism” there’s a read-between-the-lines suggestion that men are dropping the ball in the relationship equation.

I don’t want to exacerbate that narrative. For many reasons men – especially young ones – are having their roles in society redefined which, at its best, opens up space for inclusion and reflection but, at its worst, destabilises confidence and identity. Some guys do get things wrong in relationships. But us women do too.

As much as we’d like to believe these attitudes don’t affect the church and dating in Christianity is different, sadly they do and it isn’t.

Our feeds are filled with the same commentary, users on our apps ghost just as much, and we’re dating people who hear the same stories everyone else does about the changing relational landscape.

While we have the benefit of hope in a God who “ordained all our days before one of them came to be”, it also means we have bigger questions about why we haven’t met someone yet.

Unlike our “defeated secular counterparts” we can’t just blame “a terrible dating scene” for the husband we pray for still not being in our lives, or why one friend can meet their partner online in months and you can’t. Our answer to the (dumb, unnecessary and backhanded compliment) question of, “How are you still single?” feels dramatically existential.

We have to balance the fight in our minds between knowing it’s OK to be single, given some of the greatest biblical figures were – including Jesus himself – with the fact that God tells us He’ll grant us the desires of our heart and that for many that’s still marriage.

We live in a wait we don’t know will end: will our story be one of finding someone, or of accepting that not all prayers are answered in the way we want?

There’s no way of knowing for sure, and if you don’t see an end date to when you have to find this person by – first weddings happen at 50 friends – our hope only expires when we choose to let it.

What we do have control over is how we wait.

Will you engage in the life you currently have while you press forward in building another one?

Will you delight in the coupling of friends while you’re still single?

Will you commit to seeing purpose in what’s in your hands without wishing for what could be?

Don’t believe the lie that a single life isn’t fulfilling or rich with God’s goodness, but don’t also fall into the trap of idolising self-sufficiency. You have God-given inherent value just as you are, but it is OK to want someone romantically to share your life with.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

About the Author: Laura Bennett is a media professional, broadcaster and writer from Sydney, Australia.

Feature image: Canva

You Don’t Need More Willpower – When Trying Harder Isn’t The Answer

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By: Simon Matthews

It’s 9pm. You’ve had a long day and you’re standing in front of your open refrigerator. You know you’re not hungry. You know you said you’d stop late-night snacking. But somehow, you watch your hand reach out for the ice cream or leftover pizza. 

Later, lying in bed, you get mad at yourself. “What is wrong with me? Why don’t I have more willpower?”

Here’s the truth that might surprise you—willpower isn’t your problem. In fact, willpower as we understand it might not even be real—or at least, not in the way we think.

The Story We Tell About Willpower

For most of us, willpower feels real. It’s the thing we’re supposed to call upon when temptation strikes—the thing that separates people who achieve their goals from those who don’t. When we succeed at something difficult, we credit our determination. When we fail, we blame our weak will.

This story is deeply embedded in Western culture. Ancient Greek philosophers talked about self-control. Medieval scholars linked willpower to moral character. Victorian thinkers saw it as the foundation of discipline and virtue. Even today, we admire people with an “iron will” and shame ourselves for lacking it.

The concept is appealing because it seems to match our subjective experience. When you don’t eat that second slice of cake, it feels like you’re flexing some internal strength. When you give in, it feels like that strength has failed. 

But what if that feeling is misleading? And what if the whole framework is wrong?

It’s Too Vague to Be Useful

Ask 10 people what willpower means, and you’ll get 10 different answers. Is it resisting temptation? Persevering through difficulty? Following through on a commitment? Possessing a good character?

This vagueness makes willpower a useless concept for change. When something can mean almost anything, it explains almost nothing.

Recent research suggests that what we call “willpower” is actually a collection of different mental processes—impulse control, persistence, emotional regulation, habit strength and more. There’s no single “willpower switch” to flip.

The “Limited Tank” Theory 

You may have heard willpower described like a muscle—it gets tired with overuse, so after a day of resisting temptations, you simply run out. This “ego depletion” theory was popular for a while, but studies have found little evidence for it.

What does seem to matter is what you believe about willpower. People who think willpower is unlimited show better self-regulation than those who think it runs out. In other words, believing your willpower is depleted can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

And the opposite is also true—believing you have bucketloads of willpower can help you. But it’s not willpower doing the heavy lifting; it’s what you believe about yourself.

The Blame Game

The thing I most dislike about the willpower story is that it places all the responsibility on you as an individual, while ignoring all the other things that influence behavioural change. 

I’ve been a psychologist for the better part of 30 years and one thing I’ve come to appreciate is how much the things around you matter—where you live, who you live with, the opportunities you have and the resources you have at your disposal. It all makes a difference.

Is it easier to avoid eating biscuits when they’re in a jar on your kitchen counter or when they’re still on the supermarket shelf? Is it easier to go to the gym when it’s two minutes from home or half an hour’s drive? Is it easier to change a habit when your friends are doing the same, or when they’re still doing what you’re trying to stop?

Your environment matters enormously. So do your skills and knowledge. So does whether the change aligns with what you truly value, not just what you think you should want.

When we frame everything as a willpower problem, we overlook these other factors. Worse, when we struggle—as we almost always do at some stage—we conclude that we’re weak or flawed, rather than recognising that the conditions for change weren’t in place.

This self-blame creates shame. And shame is one of the biggest barriers to meaningful change because it makes us less likely to seek help or be honest about our struggles.

It Doesn’t Explain How We Keep Things Going

Most successful behaviour change doesn’t feel like an act of will after a while.

When you first start exercising, it might require significant mental effort to get yourself to the gym. But after several months, it usually becomes automatic. That’s not because your willpower got stronger—it’s because you built a habit that matters to you.

Think about brushing your teeth. I’m certain you don’t use willpower for that. It’s become a stable routine, most likely paired with another routine—like what you do after breakfast or before you go to bed—and it communicates important information about who you are. Ie, I’m someone who looks after my teeth).

So if willpower isn’t the answer, what is? Modern psychology offers far more useful frameworks.

Understand Your Emotions

Many behaviours we might see as willpower failures are actually “emotional regulation” challenges. You’re not eating because you’re weak-willed; you’re eating because you’re stressed and haven’t learned other ways to comfort yourself. You’re not avoiding the gym because you’re lazy; you’re avoiding it because exercise triggers anxiety about your body, feelings of physical discomfort or because you worry about all the things you’re not doing while you’re at the gym.

When you learn to identify and work with your emotions—rather than ignoring them and trying to “will” yourself to act—change becomes much easier.

Redesign Your Environment

Make the healthy choice the easy choice. This is the principle behind “nudging”—making small changes to your environment that guide you toward better decisions.

Want to eat more vegetables? Put them at eye level in your fridge and pre-chop them so they’re ready to go. Want to read more? Put your phone in another room and leave a book on your coffee table or pillow. Want to save money? Set up automatic transfers on pay day so you just don’t see the money in your account. Small changes like this make new behaviours much easier.

Build Skill, Not Will

Sometimes what we call a willpower gap is actually a skill gap. You don’t lack the will to eat healthily—you lack the skill to cook or meal plan. You don’t lack the will to manage your money; you lack the skill to budget, or simply financial literacy.

Seeing change in this way gives you something to act on. Skills can be learned. But you can’t simply “will” yourself to have more will.

A More Compassionate Way Forward

The willpower story is seductive because it’s simple and because it aligns with a lot of societal, cultural and even religious messages we’ve been raised with. But it makes change feel like a moral test you’re always failing. It keeps you stuck in cycles of self-blame instead of solving problems.

The good news is you don’t need more willpower. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Address the emotions driving unwanted behaviours
  • Design environments that support your goals
  • Build habits that make good choices easier
  • Develop specific skills for specific challenges
  • Connect your actions to values that matter to you

This approach treats yourself as a whole person navigating complex circumstances, not as a moral failure who just needs to “try harder.”

So next next time you find yourself standing at the refrigerator at 9pm, instead of asking, “Why don’t I have more willpower?” ask, “What emotion am I trying to manage right now?”

Once you’ve answered that, then ask, “How else can I satisfy that need?”

Those questions will lead you somewhere useful—to greater understanding of yourself and your needs. The willpower question just leads to shame. And you know you deserve better than that.

Want To Know More?

If you’re interested in exploring these ideas further, here are some great books that challenge the willpower myth and offer practical alternatives to managing change in your life:

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg

Switch: How to Change When Change Is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath

The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal

Mindset by Carol Dweck

Article provided by Signs of The Times Magazine

Simon Matthews is a psychologist and leadership coach. He is a dual Fellow of both the American College and the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine. He is an adjunct lecturer at Avondale University Lifestyle Medicine & Health Research Centre. He loves talking about his passions of travelling and cooking. He writes from Madrid, Spain.

Feature image: Canva

Chronic Pain: Effective Practices To Support Daily Living

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By: Michelle Nortje

Chronic pain can be a debilitating and arduous experience. However, I have a few clients who have been inspirational to me, in how they have faced up to these challenges with awareness, curiosity and grace. Despite what can feel like never-ending discomfort, mental well-being and hope can still be possible.

What Do We Mean by Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is pain that lasts for longer than three months, or beyond the usual time it takes for tissues or injuries to heal. It might begin after an injury, illness, or surgery, or sometimes with no clear starting point at all.

Importantly, chronic pain is not just a signal of tissue damage. Over time, the nervous system itself can become more sensitive, meaning the brain and body stay on “high alert,” even when there is no ongoing injury. Pain, in this sense, becomes a learned and reinforced experience within the nervous system.

This doesn’t mean the pain is “imaginary”! Chronic pain is very real, and it reflects changes in how the brain, nerves, muscles, and stress systems interact.

How Chronic Pain and Mental Health Affect Each Other

Chronic pain doesn’t exist in isolation. It often becomes tightly linked with mood, energy, sleep, and motivation.

Many people notice that over time:

  • Pain leads to reduced activity, social withdrawal, or avoidance
  • Reduced activity can contribute to low mood, frustration, or hopelessness
  • Depression and anxiety increase muscle tension, inflammation, and pain sensitivity
  • The nervous system becomes caught in a pain–stress–fatigue cycle

This creates a loop:
Pain → less movement and pleasure → lower mood → heightened pain sensitivity

The encouraging news is that this loop can be interrupted. Gently supporting the nervous system can reduce pain intensity, increase confidence in the body, and improve quality of life.

Simple, Evidence-Based Practices to Support Chronic Pain

These practices are not about “getting rid” of pain or pushing through it. Instead, they aim to calm the nervous system, reduce reactivity, and help the body relearn safety.

Even a few minutes a day can make a difference.

1. Mindful Attention to the Body

Mindfulness for pain is not about ignoring pain or trying to make it disappear. It’s about noticing sensations with curiosity rather than fear.

How to practise:

  • Choose a comfortable position
  • Gently bring attention to your breath or body
  • When pain shows up, notice its qualities (pressure, heat, movement) rather than judging it
  • If the sensation feels overwhelming, shift attention to a neutral or pleasant area (e.g., hands, feet, or breath)

Why this helps:
Mindfulness reduces threat signalling in the brain and helps separate pain from suffering. Research shows it can reduce pain intensity, distress, and depressive symptoms.

2. Visualising Safety and Comfort

The brain responds to imagery in much the same way it responds to real experiences. Visualisation can be a powerful way to signal safety to the nervous system.

How to practise:

  • Close your eyes and imagine a place where you feel safe or at ease
  • Picture details: colours, textures, sounds
  • If helpful, imagine warmth, softness, or gentle support around painful areas

Why this helps:
Visualisation can reduce muscle guarding and calm the stress response, which often amplifies pain signals.

3. Gentle, Paced Movement

When pain is persistent, it’s common to either avoid movement altogether or push too hard on “good days.” Both can increase flare-ups.

How to practise:

  • Choose small, predictable amounts of movement (e.g., a short walk, stretching)
  • Keep it consistent rather than reactive to pain levels
  • Focus on what your body can do, not what it can’t

Why this helps:
Regular movement reassures the nervous system that the body is safe, reduces stiffness, and improves mood and confidence over time.

4. Compassionate Self-Talk During Pain Flares

How we speak to ourselves during pain matters. Threat-based thoughts (“This will never end,” “My body is broken”) increase nervous system arousal.

How to practise:

  • Notice critical or catastrophic thoughts
  • Gently replace them with supportive statements such as:
    • “This is difficult, and I’m doing my best”
    • “My body is trying to protect me”
    • “This sensation can change”

Why this helps:
Self-compassion reduces stress hormones, lowers emotional distress, and supports emotional resilience, all of which influence pain processing.

A Hopeful Note

Living with chronic pain can be exhausting and isolating. But pain is not fixed, and the nervous system remains changeable throughout life. Small, consistent practices that support safety, awareness, and self-kindness can gradually reduce pain intensity, improve mood, and help you reconnect with your life, even if pain is still present.

Support from a psychologist, physiotherapist, GP, or pain-informed therapist can further tailor these approaches to your unique experience. Contact the Centre for Effective Living for further support or questions. Some other helpful websites include Pain Australia and PainHealth.

Feature image: Canva

Revisiting Your New Year’s Resolutions – (Remember Those?)

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By: Bec Harris

It’s easy to start the new year full of enthusiasm for change. But by this time of year, many resolutions have fizzled.

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Overcoming The Parenting Guilt Trap

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By: Sabrina Peters

If you’ve ever gone to bed replaying the day in your head, wondering if you were too harsh, too distracted, or just not enough, you are not alone. 

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Why a Child’s First 1,000 Days Matter

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By: Bridget Hadfield

During her fourth pregnancy, Adjowa feared that she and her baby wouldn’t survive.

Her husband was unable to work after a serious accident and the family was living in extreme poverty in Togo, often only eating a meal every three or four days. 

With no income and no access to medical care, Adjowa was malnourished and desperate. As her due date approached, she feared giving birth at home, alone, with no trained support. 

“I thought my life was doomed and I would not survive,” she says. 

Everything changed when Adjowa was connected to a local Compassion centre running a Mums and Babies program. The staff stepped in immediately, providing food parcels, covering her medical costs and ensuring she had essential supplies for her baby. 

When she went into labour, the staff rushed her to the hospital. Her baby girl was born silent and unresponsive, but because the costs were covered and trained help was available, she could receive life-saving care. 

“My daughter and I would not have made it if the Compassion centre had not helped. I am sure I would be dead by this time and my baby too,” says Adjowa.

Adjowa’s story is confronting, yet sadly not rare. It reflects the challenges faced by millions of mothers living in poverty and highlights how much is at stake during pregnancy, birth and the earliest days of a child’s life. 

The first 1,000 days: a critical window

The first 1,000 days, from conception to a child’s second birthday, are a time of incredible vulnerability and immense potential. During this period, rapid brain and physical development occur. A child’s survival, immune system and long-term health are shaped by the nutrition, care and support they receive. 

For mothers living in poverty, limited access to healthcare, poor nutrition, harmful cultural beliefs and a lack of support can lead to serious consequences for maternal health. 

In 2023, sub-Saharan Africa recorded 454 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with just 3 per 100,000 in Australia and New Zealand. According to UNICEF, sub-Saharan Africa alone accounted for 70 per cent of global maternal deaths, mostly from preventable causes. 

The risks for babies are equally stark. Babies born in sub-Saharan Africa are 11 times more likely to die than those born in Australia, and nearly one-third of births occur without a skilled birth attendant, according to the World Health Organisation. 

Yet early intervention for babies can change everything. With the right support, a child born in poverty has a far greater chance not only to survive, but to thrive. 

Why investing in a child’s earliest years changes everything

Kate Naliaka, Compassion International’s Global Health Advisor based in Kenya, has seen the impact of early intervention firsthand. 

“We understand the importance of starting early and investing in child survival and early childhood because it is the foundation of lifelong health,” she says. “If the foundation is strong, a child is more likely to withstand stress later in life. If we don’t start early, we don’t reduce the burden of poverty and allow these children to reach their God-given potential.” 

Poverty is multidimensional, affecting far more than a family’s income. It shapes every part of life. Without enough food, mothers become malnourished and babies are born underweight. Without support, harmful beliefs can take hold. In some communities, for example, mothers are told that the first breastmilk is dirty, so they delay breastfeeding and miss a vital source of early nutrition and immunity. 

These layers of physical, emotional and social barriers combine to make pregnancy, birth and early childhood even more vulnerable for families living in poverty. 

As Kate explains, that’s why Compassion’s intervention is holistic, supporting a mother and her baby physically, socio-emotionally, cognitively and spiritually. 

“An educated mother is an empowered mother, and an empowered mother translates to an empowered family, community and society at large.” 

Children who are nurtured holistically in their earliest years can grow up believing that change is possible and that they can break the cycle of poverty. 

How Compassion supports mothers and babies holistically

Compassion’s local church partners ensure mothers receive vital support during pregnancy and beyond, offering medical care, nutritional support, emotional and spiritual guidance, and a loving community. 

Through home visits, peer group activities and community networks, new mums are not left to face the journey alone. When a mum joins the program, she receives: 

  • Home‑based care: Perinatal and postpartum support delivered in her own home, helping with health, nutrition and wellbeing. 
  • Advocacy and resources: Assistance to access skilled birth attendants, healthcare services and fair treatment. 
  • Community networks: Monthly group activities where mothers share, learn and encourage one another. 
  • Practical and life skills: Guidance in literacy, numeracy and small income-generating activities to build self-reliance. 

Following the birth of her baby, the Compassion centre continues to be a place of refuge and joy for Adjowa. She has regained confidence and her faith has grown stronger. 

“I still can’t believe the centre paid for all the medical expenses. I thought they would be tired of me as I am always in need,” Adjowa says. 

“I will never forget what they have done for me. The centre workers and other mothers of the program have become my family. I’m so grateful to have them.” 

It’s this kind of holistic support that inspires long-time Compassion supporters like Dr Virginia McPherson. A consultant radiologist based in Melbourne, Virginia has sponsored multiple children and funded entire Mums and Babies projects. 

She has visited programs in the Philippines, Tanzania and Sri Lanka, seeing firsthand how they are transforming lives.

“I saw women receiving quality healthcare during pregnancy and guidance. They could go to hospital for safe deliveries, but it was more than that—each week, they gathered to connect, learn practical skills and build a community. They were no longer alone and their babies had regular check-ups. 

“I was impressed by the care from the staff. They visited each mother regularly at home and supported them at the centre. I simply could not imagine raising my children in the conditions many of these women live in. The program provides rich, holistic care, lifting women above the poverty line while slowly healing the trauma they’ve endured. It was a privilege to see,” Virginia says. 

A brighter future starts with survival

Every child, fearfully and wonderfully made, deserves the best possible start to life. As Psalm 139 reminds us, each of us is “knit together in our mother’s womb,” a reflection of God’s love from the very beginning. 

Through the support of Compassion’s global neighbourhood, we continue to invest in the first 1,000 days, knowing how crucial they are to infant survival, early childhood development and lifelong health. 

This is the measurable impact from the 2025 financial year: 

  • 37,841 babies and mums received care during pregnancy and the first year of life 
  • 14,228 babies were welcomed safely 
  • 93.2 per cent of babies were born at a healthy birthweight 
  • 80.3 per cent of women had a skilled birth attendant 
  • 90.6 per cent of mothers were able to breastfeed, helping prevent malnutrition

Article Supplied with Thanks to Compassion

Written by Bridget Hadfield, Compassion Australia, with local reporting by Akpene, Compassion Togo.

Feature image: Supplied

Deciphering Our Dreams Could be Key to Spiritual Insight

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By: Laura Bennett

Dreams are so bizarre. Our minds have these entire experiences that are worked out while we sleep, consolidating memories, processing the day and sometimes, giving us what feels like divine insight into the challenges of our waking hours.

But how do we distinguish between regular brain function and spiritual revelation?

For most of her life, media entrepreneur and filmmaker Paige Collins thought her vivid dreams were just part of how her mind worked.

“I dream almost every night,” Paige said.

“That’s been a very normal thing for me my entire life.”

Everything shifted about eight years ago, when she woke from a dream to the sound of her own voice praying.

“I was asking God to give me an interpretation for what it was that I had just dreamed [and] that was the moment that I realised my dreams might not just be mind-clutter,” Paige said.

That moment marked the beginning of what Paige now calls being “a God dreamer.” Before then, she hadn’t considered dreams as spiritual.

“I grew up in the church, but I didn’t grow up in a church community that really emphasised the supernatural,” Paige said.

“He’s going to give people business [ideas in dreams], he’s going to give them creative works, he’s going to speak into our personal lives as well as our professional lives in this way.

“I feel very strongly about that. And if we’re not listening, we might miss some things.”

Since Paige began journalling her dreams and praying through them, “God just began to take me through a season of training in my own dream language” using scripture as an anchor.

“God speaks in dreams throughout scripture,” Paige said.

“He gives warnings [and] He gives really beautiful prophetic images.”

Having that Biblical grounding is vital, so you know it’s God shaping how you interpret the dream.

“We have to allow the Lord to bring the ultimate revelation and clarity,” Paige said.

“We don’t need to jump to conclusions.”

Over time, Paige believes God teaches each person how He communicates with them, revealing things about calling and destiny, but also personal wellbeing.

“There are very personal conversations happening between us and Him,” Paige said.

“Some of the most important dreams in my life, although they were a bit uncomfortable, brought about healing.

“They showed me unknown things I needed to deal with, and I think anything that’s going to lead me into intimacy with the Lord is something I want to say yes to.”

Paige Collins’ Awaken Dream Journal is out now.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

About the Author: Laura Bennett is a media professional, broadcaster and writer from Sydney, Australia.

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5 Step Parenting Lessons I Learned the Long Way

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By: Lorrene McClymont

I have been a step-parent for close to twenty years. It’s a unique journey, and no person’s experience will be the same.

No family has a recipe for successfully combining relationships with the other family, adding to the blended family, or navigating the myriad complicated circumstances that can occur with family breakdown. My husband and I both brought children into our relationship. Due to infertility, we were unable to add to our family. When we married, we both became step-parents. I am sharing from my experience things that worked in our house, as well as things we learned from our own family. 

Give the Children Some Agency

If you are starting the blended family journey, something that worked really well for us was to work with our kids on the house rules and consequences. We included our children in the conversation, then made sure we had a couple of posters with the rules up. In a situation where both of them had very little control, it meant they could gain some buy-in.  It also helped with different rules at different homes.  Because the kids had a part in discussing our house rules, it removed ‘well, I can do it at the other house’ from the conversation. 

The Kids Need Time

The kids need time to readjust when they come back from the other family’s house. Even in the most amicable of situations, there are likely to be some different rules and expectations between homes. It can be challenging, confusing, and frustrating for kids to come back, and it takes a minute to adjust. We used to find it took the kids at least a couple of days to acclimatise, which definitely led to some challenging behaviour.

Avoid Being the Disciplinarian 

It may be a controversial take, but as much as humanly possible, for us, it worked to have discipline done by the primary parent. I am not talking about situations where the step-parent was the only one present; if my husband and I were both in the room and something happened with our respective children, we would try to discipline our own. Our role as step-parents was to build relationship. We didn’t always handle this well in our house, and it can quickly lead to resentment when the non-biological parent constantly steps in to discipline unnecessarily. 

Communication Between Partners is Key 

Communicate with your partner. I did not communicate some things that happened early on in our relationship.  It was while we were adjusting to being a blended family, and I was afraid to upset everyone. I was trying to make things work, and I didn’t want to hurt my husband’s feelings. We had already both had a failed relationship, and I was terrified of messing up our marriage, so I kept quiet instead of working through things together. I carried a lot of anxiety in the early days, trying to hold it all together. My husband also struggled with this. It took a while to find a good balance, but communication is key. 

Prioritise Your Marriage

Your relationship with your spouse is primary. My daughter is married now, and we have discussed this in detail a few times over the years.  I did not put my husband first in the early days of our relationship. It had been my daughter and me against the world for a few years, and I jumped too quickly to her defense, often without hearing his side. Sometimes it was necessary, because I understood her unique perspective on life better than he did. But sometimes it wasn’t. When we blended the families, I just wanted everyone to be happy, and at times, that came at the expense of the relationship.

They Are Not Adults

We always tried to keep in mind that the children in our family were just that, children. Children hear everything, even when you don’t think they are listening. There is no place for any bad mouthing, gossip, or abuse of the other parent in front of them. Yours or your partner’s fight with the other parent is not their fight. They, as children, should be able to be children for as long as they can, and part of that is not being dragged into their parents’ adult situation. Doing this is not easy.  Family breakdown comes with all sorts of tension and pain. As a step-parent, there is nothing to be gained by saying horrible things to a child about their other parent. All that will happen is they will resent you. 

Blending a family is tricky. Not only are you bringing the scars from your previous relationship into the new one, even if you have done some healing, the kids can be deeply affected by what has happened in their home. Every situation is completely unique, and step-parenting itself is a unique journey. I have found in my own life and family, it has been a gift. I have learned things about myself that surprised me a good way, but also found some areas that really needed some work. We have developed a strong family bond over time, but it was the insights developed through the ups and downs of the journey that led to this.

Article supplied with thanks to Lorrene McClymont.

About the Author: Lorrene McClymont is a writer and photographer from Hope Images. On her blog ‘Moments to Rest’, she shares about rest, faith, and family.

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