Question: Thanksgiving is this week, and I'm having a hard time getting up for it. I'm usually a positive person, but all of life's difficulties decided to visit me this year. And the mess the world is in only adds to my feelings of despair. How can I get past this?

Jim: I think a lot of folks are where you're at right now. These aren't easy times. It's been said that "gratitude is the mother of all virtues." But our feelings of gratitude run only as deep as the thing they're rooted in. Ultimately, our expressions of thanksgiving are a reflection of and stem from where we've placed our hope. Because while it's good to give thanks for life's blessings, life's circumstances will always be shaky and uncertain.

Perhaps no one knew this more than Martin Rinkart. Rinkart was a Lutheran minister who served the German town of Eilenburg during the Thirty Years' War. This long and destructive conflict remains one of the most devastating in all of European history. Wars, plagues, pestilence and famine reduced the German population by 40 percent, and as a strategic city, Eilenburg experienced the brunt of it. Though destitute himself, Rinkart provided refuge for victims in his home. In 1637, as the city's only surviving pastor, Rinkart performed over 4,000 funerals -- as many as 50 funerals a day -- including that of his wife.

Yet in the midst of this unimaginable pain and suffering, Rinkart wrote what many consider to be our finest Thanksgiving hymn, "Now Thank We All Our God." A study of its words reveals the source of Rinkart's unshakeable gratitude -- and I'd encourage you to read them.

I'd also encourage you to call our Focus counselors. They're here to listen and help in times like these.

Question: My father-in-law insists on carving our Thanksgiving turkey. He considers it a position of honor. The problem is that he does a terrible job! My beautifully cooked turkey gets absolutely mauled! I don't want to insult him by giving the job to someone else -- it means so much to him. How can I fix this in a loving way?

Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries: Planning and preparing the Thanksgiving meal represents an incredible gift. It always seems a shame that so much time and effort goes into this labor of love, only to have everything devoured and done in a matter of moments. Perhaps this is a part of your own frustration. Regardless, I commend your wanting to provide a special Thanksgiving experience for everyone, while also protecting the feelings of and guarding your relationship with your father-in-law.

It's important that you resist the temptation to dismiss your feelings. Resentment will only build, and growth and resolution won't be realized unless you're able to identify why this is an issue for you. After you've explored your feelings and arrived at the heart of the matter, you may decide to stay with the status quo. But that doesn't mean you can't use the opportunity to create a "win" for everybody.

You could, for instance, start a new tradition of taking a family picture with your beautiful bird before it goes under the knife. You might also further honor your father-in-law by publically expressing how much you've appreciated his carving leadership, and how you'd like to preserve the tradition by having him someday confer that responsibility to your husband when he's ready.

In the end, you may find that this sacrificial act is merely an extension and enhancement of everything you're trying to accomplish -- serving friends and family and providing an atmosphere where a spirit of love and thanksgiving is felt and expressed.

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: How much do my children need to know about my past? Is there any reason to be completely open with them about the moral failings of my youth?

Jim: This is a common, but important, question. Our counselors generally believe that "less is more" in these cases. But the most important consideration should always be, "What's in the best interest of your child"?

Truthfulness and transparency are critical, but the detail of any confession should be guided by several factors. Age and maturity are important considerations, as is your child's motivation. Is he requesting that you reveal personal information -- as in, "Did you do drugs or have sex when you were in high school?" If not, you need to question whether there's any good reason to volunteer this. If he's trying to elicit facts about your past history, how is your narrative likely to be used? If it's a case of a rebellious teen stockpiling ammunition to be used against the authority figures in his life, you should proceed with caution.

On the other hand, if he's sincerely reaching out for empathy and guidance in the midst of a personal battle with temptation, it might help to reveal some of your own human weaknesses. This can be an unparalleled teaching opportunity to share valuable wisdom drawn from real-life experience. This is the time to say -- with humility -- "I fell into that trap when I was young, and here's why I don't want to see you make the same mistake."

In bringing your personal failings out into the open, you can show a struggling teen exactly what it means to correct course and, through faith, redeem the errors of the past. This can add credibility to your warnings and positively impact your child's future in ways you can't possibly predict.

Question: My wife is naturally beautiful. But when we go out, she wears too much makeup and hides her innate beauty. I've tried to drop subtle hints that she's prettier with less, but she's not getting it. Do you think I should keep my mouth shut or be more direct?

Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries: You'd be wise to tread lightly here. Matters of appearance are highly personal decisions for both men and women and are closely tied to our sense of identity. And while honesty is essential in a marriage, so is respecting boundaries, and the feelings and preferences of your mate.

When dealing with delicate issues, it's important to first determine what the real issue is. In your case, it means you need to carefully examine your motives. Is the energy here about your own preferences or how your wife's appearance makes you feel? Are you truly seeking her best interest and trying to encourage her in how she feels about herself, or helping her understand how others may be misperceiving her?

If you conclude that this is just about you, then I'd strongly recommend you keep your opinions to yourself unless your wife asks for or invites them. This doesn't mean that you can't make your preferences known. But that should be limited to expressing appreciation for those things about her appearance that you delight in.

On the other hand, if she's shared with you some doubts or insecurity about her clothes or makeup, you might gently offer some suggestions along with affirming the things she already does that you find attractive. You may even want to offer to fund a session with a beauty consultant as your gift to her if you think she'd be receptive. Bottom line: value and guard the beauty of her heart above all else.

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.

Q: I recently read an article suggesting another economic recession may be looming. What's the wisest way to handle my finances during a period of economic uncertainty?

Jim: Your question is important and deserves the best possible answer. My friend and trusted financial expert Ron Blue offers the following:

Since inflation is an important element of any recession, it's critical to guard against four popular myths that are centered on this factor. They contain just enough truth to make them believable, but a closer look reveals why it's unwise to let them influence your financial habits.

-- Myth No. 1: Buy now because it will cost more later. The cost of computers and electronic equipment demonstrates that prices don't always rise. The question is not what something costs now versus the future, but whether you really need it.

-- Myth No. 2: Always borrow to buy. Two elements of truth support this myth: 1) "payment" dollars are cheaper than "borrowed" dollars; 2) interest deductibility reduces the interest cost on some loans. Unfortunately, it's also based on two highly questionable assumptions: 1) that the interest rate is less than the inflation rate and 2) that the cash that could be used for the purchase is earning more than the cost of borrowing.

-- Myth No. 3: You can never accumulate enough. Inflation often makes us feel like prices are increasing faster than our savings earn interest. However, if you spend less than you earn, over time the earning power of your money will always be greater than the inflation rate.

-- Myth No. 4: The rate of inflation is standard for everyone. This isn't necessarily so. If you plan to have a cash flow margin by living within a simple, workable budget, your personal rate of inflation will be substantially lower than the nationally reported rate.

While economic downturns are unavoidable, you can minimize their effects: Spend less than you earn, reduce your debt and build personal liquidity through savings and investments.

Q: My 13-year-old daughter is obsessed with a certain 23-year-old recording artist. Her room is plastered with his posters, she has four shirts with his picture on them, and she follows him on Twitter -- not to mention downloading every note he sings on iTunes. She isn't stalking him yet, but it's getting creepy. When does fandom become unhealthy, and how can I keep her from crossing the line?

Bob Waliszewski, Director, Plugged-In: Your daughter's behavior is nothing new. Whether it was Elvis, the Beatles, Justin Timberlake or others in between, adoring fans have screamed and fainted at concerts, memorized every song and displayed their affections in the weirdest of ways. Chances are it's a phase she'll grow out of.

That said, it's still important to have regular conversations with your daughter to affirm your values and keep her grounded. Part of this involves staying plugged into her world. If you haven't yet, listen to this artist's songs and watch his videos on YouTube. Also, Google news stories to stay abreast of his recent activities. Has he had run-ins with the law? Does he have a reputation for being a partier or womanizer?

Key to your conversations is to have them in a natural or relaxed setting -- perhaps as part of a one-on-one activity your daughter enjoys. Begin by asking about and then listening to what she has to say about this musician, and then follow up with your own observations. Be sure to applaud the positives, as well as share any concerns you may have uncovered. Then, allow her to react and respond. Your goal for her as part of this back and forth is to develop and exercise discernment that will influence not only her entertainment choices, but decisions in every area of life.

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.