Q: Now that my kids are grown, I have more time on my hands and want to invest it in something else meaningful. Do you have any suggestions?

Jim: We often place great emphasis on the next generation: The children growing up today who will become the leaders of tomorrow. That's certainly very worthwhile, but what about the previous generation?

In many Western nations, the birth rate is declining while the elderly are the fastest-growing segment of the population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people 65 and over will double by 2050. By 2030, one in five Americans will be elderly.

Unfortunately, our culture prizes those who are young and beautiful. But there's great value in every human being, no matter their age.

Investing in the older generation is about more than spending time with your own parents and grandparents, although that's definitely important. Think about the thousands of men and women around us -- veterans, nursing home residents, shut-ins, etc. -- who are growing old alone. One survey of more than 16,000 care centers in the U.S. found that only 15 percent of the residents received visitors. Eighty-five percent didn't receive visits from anyone ... not friends, not family, not even a chaplain. We can do better. We must do better.

So I hope you'll consider investing a little time, energy and love in the elder generation. We can all gain a lot from their wisdom, experience and example. And they'll benefit from our love and appreciation.

Q: My ex-husband is a convicted felon serving a long prison sentence. How should I respond to my son's questions about his dad? He has some great role models in my father and my brothers, but I'm worried that he will somehow end up identifying with his father's example.

Danny Huerta, Vice President, Parenting and Youth: It makes sense for your son to have questions; he wants to get to know a part of his story that he does not know well. He's blessed to have a mom who loves him so much and is intentional about this situation.

Be honest when your boy asks questions about his dad. Explain that his father made some bad decisions in the past and is facing the consequences, which includes being in jail for a long time. Above all, make sure your son understands that his father is absent because of his own mistakes; kids often tend to assume the blame for any kind of brokenness in the family structure.

It's natural for your boy to be sad, even angry, about his father being in prison. But you should also help him grasp the point that resentment only hurts the person who nurtures it. So help him develop healthy ways to deal with these emotions (exercising, hobbies, talking to someone he trusts, etc.). You're in the best position to help your son build a plan for who he wants to become rather than defaulting to repeating his dad's mistakes.

Keep in mind that he may ask to write to or visit his father -- or Dad might want to initiate contact. Talk this through with a counselor. Some kids are in a good place emotionally to do this, but some aren't.

Meanwhile, it's encouraging to know that your son has been blessed with so many other positive male role models. As he grows, encourage these men to spend special one-on-one "guy" time with him. Their affirmation and attention will give your boy a deeper sense of how special and valuable he is.

If you'd like to discuss these ideas further with one of our staff counselors, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357).

Jim Daly is a husband and father, an author, and president of Focus on the Family and host of the Focus on the Family radio program. Catch up with him at www.jimdalyblog.com or at www.facebook.com/DalyFocus.

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Q: Do you have any suggestions for helping our kids learn how to handle money in practical ways?

Jim: I think there's a financial application that many of us overlook as parents: Paying for extracurricular activities. We all know they can take a big bite out of the family budget, but it's usually a sacrifice we're happy to make because we know the importance of those opportunities. Still, I wonder if we're doing our children a disservice by just handing over the cash.

Part of our job as parents is to instill a strong work ethic in our kids. It's never too early to guide children toward age-appropriate projects that nurture lifelong skills and have financial returns. After all, when kids learn the value of a dollar, they develop an appreciation for the effort that goes in to earning one. And if we choose to have our children cover at least part of the cost of sports, camps or lessons, they're more invested in the process -- and they'll probably get more out of the experience.

The best idea for a moneymaking project is one that fits your child's age, skill and temperament. Research ideas with your kids, and then encourage and support them along the way. Maybe it's making jewelry, offering computer services or walking dogs. It might even be running a lemonade stand by the curb. And if that doesn't work, don't be afraid to change course (that's Business 101). In the end, your children will reach some immediate goals while gaining a sense of accomplishment. But more importantly, you'll help them realize it's possible to find work they love -- and that has lasting effect.

Q: My marriage is struggling. I'm not really sure how we got to this point, but it seems like we spend most of our time fighting over who did what. I want to recapture the good relationship that we had once upon a time; do you have any advice?

Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries: Almost every marriage in crisis shares an identical problem. At least one member of the couple has a bad habit of blaming their own poor behavior on their spouse. In other words, a husband blames his wife for his affair; a wife blames her husband for her unhappiness. Or they blame one another for ... fill in the blank: Angry outbursts, critical attitudes, pornography or alcohol addictions -- the list goes on and on.

This all keeps a marriage stuck in conflict and at high risk for divorce. That's because casting blame is all about avoiding responsibility. If a problem is your fault, then you're the one who needs to change, not me. That attitude prevents couples from getting to the source of their issues and resolving them.

If you're stuck in the "blame game," there's only one way to turn things around. You must recognize and admit that your behavior is your own responsibility. After all, the only person you can change is yourself.

Now, I get it. Your spouse may have a knack for getting under your skin and provoking you. They may even be guilty of unhealthy and harmful behaviors. Still, when it comes down to it, how you respond is up to you. You can choose to meet your spouse's poor choices head-on with a healthy response of your own.

That takes humility. In some cases it might require "tough love" (perhaps even separating temporarily to work out your respective issues). But when couples acknowledge their own shortcomings and refuse to shift blame, even the most difficult conflict has a chance of getting resolved.

Our staff counselors can help; feel free to call them at 855-771-HELP (4357) or visit FocusOnTheFamily.com.

Jim Daly is a husband and father, an author, and president of Focus on the Family and host of the Focus on the Family radio program. Catch up with him at www.jimdalyblog.com or at www.facebook.com/DalyFocus.

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Q: New year, new beginnings ... yada-yada-yada. It seems like every year I set goals for new things I want to accomplish, but even when I've managed to follow through and achieve them, I still feel unfulfilled. Isn't life all about seeking and finding new experiences? What am I missing?

Jim: At New Year's parties all over the world, many people celebrate midnight by breaking into a rendition of the classic song "Auld Lang Syne." It's a perfect tune to ring in the new year ... if you know what the words mean and take them to heart.

"Auld Lang Syne" is usually sung out of tradition, much like the "Happy Birthday" jingle at a party, but few understand its meaning. After all, what is meant by: "Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne?" Those words actually call us to meaningful relationships in the new year.

The Scottish words "auld lang syne" literally mean "days of old." So, translated, the song is asking: "Should old acquaintances be forgotten from days of long ago?" In other words, the song calls us not to forget the important relationships that define our lives as we move into the new year.

That's a wonderful reminder. New Year's resolutions usually involve diet plans or professional goals. But do we ever consider how we can deepen our current relationships or reconnect where there's been strain in the past? That's the kind of resolution that could make this coming year the best one yet.

There's nothing wrong with setting goals for learning new skills or improving ourselves. But true connection and fulfillment come from having relationships with deep roots. Whatever we do and wherever we go, we're more apt to succeed when we have strong bonds with people we know well and love.

So when the clock strikes midnight on January 1, sing those words from your heart -- and let them move you closer toward the important people who are already in your life.

Q: Do you have any creative ideas to help me stay connected with my kids? We're all so involved that it feels like we never have a moment to share.

Danny Huerta, Vice President, Parenting and Youth: You're not alone -- in a Pew Research survey, 56 percent of working parents reported difficulty in balancing work and quality family time.

The secret is addition by subtraction. In other words, choosing to say "no" to some things for each member of the family will serve to free up everybody's time for saying "yes" to each other.

In my house, we have a family night each week and make sure to pray and laugh together. Another simple yet powerful tool that works for us (and many families I've counseled professionally) is keeping "connection journals." These are journals we each have at our place on the kitchen table. They allow us all to write short messages to one another -- notes of encouragement, inspiring quotes, Bible verses, riddles and jokes and words of gratitude for what that person means to us.

Reading (and rereading) what's been written in these journals is like opening a gift. My son reads his before leaving for school; my daughter sometimes takes hers to read later in the day. My wife looks at her journal throughout the day while the rest of us are away from home. I enjoy taking mine to work and on business trips.

Connection journals can provide a quick mental "reset." We can all get off track when negative thinking crowds out perspective. Uplifting words get our thoughts turned around and reconnected with truth and what matters most.

So, give connection journals a try and see what a difference they can make in your family relationships.

Jim Daly is a husband and father, an author, and president of Focus on the Family and host of the Focus on the Family radio program. Catch up with him at www.jimdalyblog.com or at www.facebook.com/DalyFocus.

INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT SECURED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.