Lake Union Herald

Melissa Ponce-Rodas

Articles by Melissa Ponce-Rodas

  • Filling the Missing Part of a Child’s Village

    Filling the Missing Part of a Child’s Village

    When we study human development, we realize that children’s first teachers are often informal ones—family members and friends who guide and direct them.

    Melissa Ponce-Rodas
  • What to Expect as Children Transition to Young Adults

    What to Expect as Children Transition to Young Adults

    College students and family life aren’t terms that are usually used together.

    Melissa Ponce-Rodas
  • Help Them!

    Help Them!

    Protecting our Children from Abuse

    Melissa Ponce-Rodas
  • Talking to children about violence

    Talking to children about violence

    Yet another school shooting in America. When I heard about the Uvalde elementary school shooting, I was in the car with my husband and children – two ten-year-olds – two fourth graders, just like the children who had been murdered.

    Melissa Ponce-Rodas
  • Where do we go from here?

    Where do we go from here?

    A response to news of former pastor advocating marital rape

    Melissa Ponce-Rodas
  • Fitting In

    Fitting In

    Belonging is a fundamental human need, according to God’s design. Humans are created to be social beings, and family is one of the first ways in which we experience belonging and learn to value it.

    Melissa Ponce-Rodas
  • Raising a Well-balanced Family

    Raising a Well-balanced Family

    For many years, I believed the myth of a “perfect” family — the one shown on television and all forms of media, consisting of two biological parents, 2.3 children, 1.5 pets, and a white picket fence.

    Melissa Ponce-Rodas
  • We Need Each Other

    We Need Each Other

    My kids hopped in the van after their first day of summer camp. “It was great, Mommy!” they shouted in unison.

    Melissa Ponce-Rodas
  • No Place Like Home

    No Place Like Home

    Adoption can be a difficult process, even for a cat! My parents recently adopted two kittens, but they were from different litters.

    Melissa Ponce-Rodas
  • When Violence is in Our Homes

    When Violence is in Our Homes

    Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence (Gen 6:11 NIV). Violence destroys families, harming each member in different ways. Today, domestic violence (DV) occurs in families inside and outside of the church at similar rates. In a study of over 1,000 Adventists, Dr. Drumm found that 33 percent of…

    Melissa Ponce-Rodas