The Session: Marriage Habits of Millennials, Gen X and Gen Z

Psalm 145:1-5

I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

Ages:

• Baby Boomers: Born 1946–1964 (Ages ~60-79)
• Generation X (Gen X): Born 1965–1980 (Ages ~45-59)
• Millennials (Gen Y): Born 1981–1996 (Ages ~29-44)
• Generation Z (Gen Z): Born 1997–2012 (Ages ~13-

University of Southern California

Key Differences in Summary:

• Baby Boomers: Optimistic, tradition-focused, post-war prosperity.
• Gen X: Independent, pragmatic, cynical, bridging eras.
• Gen Z: Digitally fluent, diverse, experience-driven, socially conscious.

Purdue University

The Encouraging Data Points

• Youth Engagement: Younger generations (Gen Z, Millennials) are showing increased commitment to Jesus, Bible reading, and church attendance, particularly younger men.
• Spiritual Curiosity: There's a noted rise in spiritual openness and interest not seen in past years.
• Global Growth: Christianity continues rapid growth in Africa and globally, with fewer atheists worldwide.

Barna Group

Baby Boomers (1946-1964)

• Marriage as Norm: Grew up with strong societal pressure to marry, resulting in the highest marriage rates.
• High Divorce Rates: Their era normalized divorce, leading to the highest divorce rates among generations, with rates rising with age. (Scott finds this interesting)
• Interracial marriage wasn't legal nationwide until 1967.

Generation X (1965-1980)

• Practical Approach: Bridged traditional and modern views, valuing financial stability and practicality in weddings.
• Cohabitation: Many supported cohabiting before marriage as a way to prevent divorce.
• High Satisfaction: Studies suggest Gen X couples report the highest marital satisfaction.

Millennials (1981-1996)

• Delayed Marriage: Married later and less frequently than prior generations, with lower overall marriage rates.
• Cohabitation & Trial Runs: Increased cohabitation before marriage, viewing it as a practical step.
• Diversity: More open to interracial and interfaith marriages.

Generation Z (1997-2010)

• Continued Delay: Following Millennial trends, they are postponing marriage and other milestones.
• Lower Marriage Projections: Expected to have even lower marriage rates than Millennials.
• Authenticity: Value authenticity and are open to diverse relationships (interfaith/interracial).

Key Takeaways

• Shift from Institution to Partnership: Marriage is increasingly seen less as a societal requirement (Boomers) and more as a personal choice for fulfillment (Millennials/Gen Z).
• Financial & Practical Focus: Gen X prioritized affordability, while Millennials and Gen Z focus on experience and value, even in weddings.
• Evolving Definitions: Acceptance of cohabitation, interracial, and interfaith marriages has grown significantly from Boomers to Gen Z.

Generation X (1965-1980)

• Practical Approach: Bridged traditional and modern views, valuing financial stability and practicality in weddings.
• Cohabitation: Many supported cohabiting before marriage as a way to prevent divorce.

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

The Session: The Psychology of Eating Cliffnotes.com

Why, When, and How Much Humans Eat

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (I Corinthians 6:19-20)

The psychology of eating is a multidisciplinary field that explores the complex biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors influencing why, when, and how much humans eat.

The psychology of eating goes beyond simple hunger to address learned behaviors, emotional triggers, and environmental cues that shape our relationship with food.

Environmental cues happen when people are more likely to eat in the presence of an environmental cue that others did too. Also, participants were more likely to choose a snack that was consistent with the choice of others.

• Examples include having a snack because someone else in the house is having one. The power of suggestion.

Key Factors in the Psychology of Eating

• Emotional Eating: Many people use food—often high-fat, high-sugar "comfort foods"—to cope with emotions such as depression, stress, sadness, boredom, anger, or loneliness. This provides temporary relief but can lead to cycles of guilt and overeating.
• Mindless Eating: This occurs when individuals eat without paying attention to their body's hunger and fullness signals, often while distracted by activities like watching TV or working.
• An example; I always eat pizza while watching football
• Social and Environmental Influence: Eating behaviors are heavily influenced by social settings, cultural norms, and marketing. People often eat more in the company of others or are influenced by the eating habits of romantic partners.
• Food Preferences and Conditioning: Personal history, childhood experiences, and learned associations (e.g., associating specific foods with celebrations or comfort) significantly shape what we choose to eat.
• Biological and Neurological Factors: Hormones like leptin and ghrelin regulate physical hunger and satiety, while the brain's reward system can drive cravings for calorie-dense foods.
• Mood and Nutrition: The relationship between food and mood is a two-way street. A nutritious diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids, and essential vitamins, can improve mood and mental health, while poor dietary choices can exacerbate feelings of stress and depression.
• Why You Eat

Understanding why you eat produces the potential to manage your weight and mental health better.

•Some people eat because they enjoy fixing themselves a snack and looking forward to eating it.

•Some people like eating because it makes it gives them an adrenaline high while preparing it.

When We Eat

• Poor Choices: People eating late often choose higher-calorie, less nutritious foods, and emotional eating increases when tired, adding excess calories.
• Increased Calorie Intake: Late-night eaters often consume hundreds more calories daily, which drives weight gain.

Portion Size

The National Library of Medicine suggests that it can increase weight gain. However other factors are related.

• Family Genetics
• Size

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

The Session: Shopaholics

I Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

The psychology of shopaholism is rooted in the temporary relief and emotional highs that shopping provides, which can be a coping mechanism for stress, low self-esteem, or feelings of powerlessness. It's a behavioral addiction.

Psychological drivers

• Emotional regulation: Shopping can be a way to soothe negative feelings like stress, anxiety, sadness, or anger.
• Sense of control: For those who feel a lack of control in other areas of their life, shopping can provide a sense of power and autonomy.
• Highs and lows: The release of endorphins and dopamine during a purchase creates a temporary "high" or sense of gratification. However, this is often followed by feelings of shame, disappointment, or guilt, which leads to a cycle of seeking the rush again.
• Self-esteem and validation: Compulsive buying can be a way to seek validation or improve one's self-image and sense of importance through material possessions.
• Perfectionism: Some individuals may shop compulsively to achieve an imagined sense of perfection, believing that certain items will make them more complete.

Comorbidity

• Other disorders could be happening at the same time.

Behavioral patterns

• Preoccupation: Individuals become preoccupied with shopping and making purchases, sometimes to an obsessive degree.
• Impulse control issues: A key feature is difficulty resisting the impulse to buy, even when they know it's a bad idea.
• Secrecy and guilt: They may hide their purchases from friends and family and feel a significant amount of shame and guilt after shopping sprees.

Escalation: The behavior can escalate into financial, emotional, and relational problems.

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

You start 2026 as an engaged person. First, congratulations! But now there's lots of things to start doing. We talk through that on this episode of The Session. Please forgive me (Scott), the notes from the episode have vanished into the ether world of my laptop, and I can't find them anywhere. So listen close! ;)

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

Sorry, no show notes here. Just Tom and his kids talking about what it was like to grow up a Russell, and the Christmas/family traditions that shaped them.

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

Sorry, no show notes here. Just Tom and his kids talking about what it was like to grow up a Russell, and the Christmas/family traditions that shaped them.

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

The Session: Favorite Christmas Story Characters and Favorite Christmas Movie

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:8

Favorite Characters in Christmas story

Heather - I love the shepherds—to think that they were out in a field at night and a host of angels appeared above them—they had to be shaking in their sandals!! And then how they responded is so inspiring—if only we all could go running towards Jesus with their enthusiasm!! 😊

Alyx - As someone with an adopted Father, I have always been very fond of Joseph, especially in the story of Jesus’ birth. We aren’t told a ton about him aside from the main deal that he had faith, married Mary instead of allowing her to be shamed, and raised Jesus as his own. I like to imagine him a lot like my very faithful and selfless father who married my mother and raised me as his own. My biological father was in my life when I was a child and my dad always took a back seat, gave my bio dad every privilege and never once complained. But my dad was the one who showed up to every concert, soccer game, bought my favorite ice cream when I cried over a boy and later adopted me as an adult.

I always say he is the clearest picture of Christ’s sacrificial love that I could ever ask for and its easy for me to understand how God loves us more because of him! I see his love for me in Christ and in Joseph so that’s why Joseph is my favorite!

Amanda - I love the Shepherds in the Christmas story. They were not high status; they were just regular people like us. God chose them to be the first to hear the news. They represent just pure joy and excitement. It's also cool that Shepherds are used as a symbol throughout the entire bible. They forecasted what was to come.

Suzannah – the donkey (A woman after Scott’s heart)

Kayti – Mary

My Erin – Mary

Alysha – Mary

Amy - I think the shepherds because they would've never imagined they would be included in such an event.

Favorite Christmas Movie

Eloise at Christmastime. Shocking that an eccentric, nosey little girl obsessed with pink always finds her way to the top of my lists lol.

White Christmas x 2

It’s a Wonderful Life

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

The Santa Claus

Miracle on 34th Street - the original

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

The Session: What Christmas Means for Vulnerable Children, from an article by Helen Richardson, Focus on the Family.

What Christmas Means for Vulnerable Children - Focus on the Family

Psalm 103:8 – “The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.”

Ways to make Christmas special for vulnerable children

• Be intentional and proactive. This includes putting time and energy into it.
• Gifts purchased or made with the vulnerable child in mind has an incredible impact
• Being proactive and intentional includes connecting with ministries that are providing Christmas for vulnerable children
• The extra little bit of time and effort put in makes a huge difference in helping the child feel loved, as well.
• Meaningful gifts like a child’s Bible or a magazine, put out by a ministry that speaks to children like Brio
• Ask them what would be a special Christmas present?
• Facilitate them providing a Christmas for someone who is less often than they are
• Give them as much ownership of what happens enduring Christmas as possible

Help displaced, vulnerable children feel more comfortable in a new environment

• Help them see Jesus was also displaced Luke 2:7 and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.
• It’s hard to remember that Jesus was a baby and a child as well as a teenager😊😂

Be intentional and proactive about their bedroom

• The vulnerable child will feel more empowered when the child gets to fix up their room the way he or she wants it for Christmas

Tom’s Thoughts

There is a theme throughout Helen’s article on acceptance and approval. Make sure they receive presents that are given with them in mind, it be even more special.

We were designed to be accepted and improved by God

There are core values that we have that can only truly be filled by the presence of the Holy Spirit in us Jeremiah 31:3: The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying; “I have loved you with an everlasting, love; You with my unfailing kindness!”

Psalm 147:3 – “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.”

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.