Dr. James Dobson: His Family and Friends Pay Tribute, Part 1

Dr. James Dobson: Hello everyone, you're listening to Family Talk, the radio broadcasting ministry of the James Dobson Family Institute. I'm Dr. James Dobson and thank you for joining us for this program.
Roger Marsh: Welcome to Family Talk, the broadcast division of the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. I'm Roger Marsh and this week marks a solemn milestone for us here at the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, one year since Dr. Dobson was called to be home with the Lord. That took place on Thursday, August 21st, 2025. To honor his memory and the extraordinary life that he lived, for the next couple of programs here on Family Talk, we are returning to a presentation that means a great deal to all of us here at the ministry. What you're about to hear are highlights from the private memorial service held for Dr. James Dobson on October 4th, 2025. These audio presentations come from an intimate gathering of family and close friends, a time to reflect on his remarkable legacy of faith, integrity, and unwavering commitment to the Gospel. Now, on today's program, you're going to hear heartfelt tributes from two women who knew him best: the Honorable Michele Bachmann, who is a member of our Board of Directors here at the JDFI, and Dr. Dobson's daughter, Danae. But right now, let's begin with a word from Dr. Bart Brock, the President of JDFI and the Chairman of the Board of Directors here at the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute.
Dr. Bart Brock: Hello, I'm Dr. Bart Brock, President and Chairman of the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. As the only ministry chosen by Dr. Dobson to carry his legacy, we were honored on October 4th, 2025, to host his family memorial. You'll see many tributes, including from his daughter, Danae, and his son, Ryan, and many friends he made over the years. As a matter of fact, as my wife and I left the memorial, we both commented on the common theme of consistency and integrity Dr. Dobson showed as husband, father, and friend. In a world craving authenticity, there is Dr. Dobson.
Roger Marsh: That was Dr. Bart Brock, reminding us of the common theme that ran throughout Dr. Dobson's life: consistency and integrity. Next up on this special edition of Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk, you're about to hear from Danae Dobson, Dr. Dobson's daughter. She'll share some childhood memories, reflect on her father's steadfast integrity, and recount the many times that God miraculously spared his life. Here now is Danae Dobson.
Danae Dobson: I want to thank every person here who came to honor my dad's life and his ministry. To my mom, it means so much to me to see you sitting there. When I was four or five years of age, before my dad became a public figure, I recognized that there was something uniquely special about him. His way of describing things, his humor, his intelligence, his wisdom, talents, and most importantly, his relationship with the Lord. He told me that when he was a child, his great-grandmother said to somebody in the family, "There's something very special about Jimmy's relationship with God." I used to often repeat things that he would say, and people would tend to agree with me because he had a special connection with the Lord, very distinct. He also had a skilled biblical knowledge that he was not a theologian and yet he had that gift. So, I now realize that what I saw in him as a child all those years ago was an anointing from God. It was an anointing that was going to catapult him into becoming a prominent Christian leader whom millions were going to look to for advice and valuable insights. My dad used to joke that he used God's ideas but he got the credit. Where my dad deserves credit, however, is in the hard work that he invested in his professional life and in his ministry. He said to me one time, "I was made to work. That's how I'm wired." Those of us in the family saw him bring home boxes of stuff on the weekends from the office that he called his stack. He would sit at his desk all day on Saturdays going through his stack. Of course, the TV would be on at the same time and sometimes the radio, too, all going at once. The TV was on most of the time in our house. Newsmax, Fox News, History Channel, USC game. When Dad was home, the TV was on and often there were two or three going at the same time in different rooms. Right, Mom? Well, despite that and given the fact that he was so busy, he always made time for me. When I was very young, he and I used to go on Sunday afternoon bike rides and I had a little seat on the back of his bicycle. We would ride to the park and we would build sandcastles together. His sandcastles were just—I mean, he had moats and drawbridges and we would pour water into the moat. He'd push me on the swing and then we would stop at our favorite taco place called Tacolita and then head to the Tasty Freeze. Those are such special memories for me, riding bikes down in the wash. Dad had a private phone line put in his office exclusively for my mom and Ryan and me, so that if we had a need, we could contact him anytime that we wanted to, regardless if he had a meeting going on or an important conference. He wanted us to know that we could interrupt him if we needed to and he wanted to make sure that we knew that we had his attention and that we were his priority. For Father's Day one year, I gave him a little trinket dish and it shows a father bending down to hug his young daughter. The words say, "Always there." My dad was always there for me. On another Father's Day, I wrote on his card how much I appreciated his integrity and I thanked him that I never had to lie in bed at night wondering what he was up to and how it was going to affect our family and how it was going to affect his ministry. I never had to think those kind of thoughts. No one ever caught my dad in a lie. He was always faithful to my mom. He never cheated anyone. In fact, he would go the extra mile to try to always be fair. A couple of months ago, I was reading an article about Jackie Kennedy Onassis and JFK's sordid affairs. I read in the article that she allegedly said to her mother, "I could have married an honest man or a great man, and I chose to marry a great man." I immediately thought of my dad: an honest man and a great man, a man of the utmost integrity. When my dad was 54, he had a significant heart attack and that began a whole series of life-or-death instances to the point where I nicknamed him Laz for Lazarus, because he had so many close calls and he just kept coming back. Dr. Roy mentioned his stroke. For 24 hours he couldn't talk and he made a 100 percent recovery. He almost bled to death one time. He had prostate cancer. One time when he was alone in the house, he slipped on snow on his shoe, fell backwards and hit the back of his head, knocked himself unconscious while on blood thinners. The doctor said, "Well, you bounced your brain around but there's no sign of a hemorrhage." He was on two airplanes, two jets, that filled up with smoke. The pilot turned to my dad and asked, "I've heard that you're a praying man." My dad said, "Yes, I am." The pilot said, "Now's the time. We have an engine on fire." They managed to get the plane on the ground. There were firetrucks all over the runway. So, he survived two of those instances. The cardiologist who treated my dad after his heart attack told him many years later, "I would have given you no more than 10 years." Well, our times are in God's hands and God gave him 35 more years and a lot of near misses in between. One time on the phone, my mom and dad and I tried to think of all the close calls he had had and count them and we came up with about 25. To his credit, my dad led a disciplined life and he did what he could to stay alive. Somebody mentioned him walking on the treadmill. After his heart attack, he walked on the treadmill every day and he used to brag that he only missed five days in 25 years. That's how dedicated he was. If he was sick, he would walk anyway because he would think that he could sweat it out. If he was on a trip, he would get up extra early to use the hotel gym or he would walk laps around the airport. He was so committed to never miss and God was so gracious to give him those 35 extra years of life and ministry. I've expressed to the Lord many times that I will never complain, but not everyone is that fortunate and we all went through that last month with great sadness. Not everyone is so fortunate to cheat death so many times. Many of you have heard my dad tell the story of Pete Maravich, but it's worth repeating today. Pete Maravich, known as Pistol Pete, was one of the greatest players in NBA history. He retired from basketball and was desperately searching for meaning in his life and he found it eventually through Jesus. He and my dad got acquainted on the phone and in 1988, my dad invited him to come and record a radio broadcast to share his amazing testimony. Pete said, "I'd really love to do that." Then my dad, in his—by his own admission—he did one of the most ostentatious things he's ever done. He said, "Pete, a group of us play basketball three times a week at 7:00 a.m. at our church gymnasium. Would you like to come play with us before we do the broadcast interview?" Pete said, "I'd really love to do that." And he came. He was wearing a t-shirt that day that said, "Looking unto Jesus." He played with my dad and his friends for about 45 minutes and then they all took a break. He and my dad stood on the sidelines talking and he told my dad that he hadn't played much in the past year because his right shoulder was bothering him. What was unbeknownst to him was that he had an undetected congenital heart defect. So, my dad asked him, "Well, how do you feel today?" Pete replied, "I'm feeling so much better. In fact, I feel great." And then he fell. He hit the ground hard. His face hit the floor. My dad saw that he was in a seizure. My dad performed CPR and the other guys came running and they called 9-1-1 and they never got a heartbeat from him. One of the greatest athletes in the history of the NBA died in my dad's arms at age 40 and my dad was shaken, understandably. He came home that day and Ryan was there, who was 17 at the time. Dad said to Ryan, "Come into my study. I want to talk to you. Do you remember this, Ryan?" Ryan said, "Vividly, yeah." Dad said, "Ryan, you never know when you're going to have your last conversation with somebody you love. I love and care about you and your sister, but I want to tell you what I care about most. I want you to accomplish a lot in your life. I want you to follow your dreams, to succeed, but that's not what matters to me the most. When this moment comes for you, like it did for Pete Maravich's family today, when you receive the news of my passing, the only thing that I care about is that you be there. Be there." "I will be looking for you. I will be searching for you in heaven so that we can spend eternity together. Be there on that resurrection morning. It outranks everything else." Many years ago, I had the "Be There" message framed for my dad and it's in his office at the ministry. He was very proud of it. Well, that time that my dad spoke about came to pass on August 21st, his final moment. I believe that he heard those words that he so very much longed to hear: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Thank you, Dad, for your love and dedication to God, to our family, and to your many friends. We will be there.
Roger Marsh: What a beautiful and heartfelt tribute from Danae Dobson. Her words remind us that Dr. Dobson was not only a great man, but he was an honest man, a man of integrity, who lived the same in private as he did in public. On today's edition of Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk, we're hearing selected highlights from Dr. James Dobson's memorial service that was held on October 4th. One final segment for today features Michele Bachmann, a longtime friend of the Dobson family and a member of the Board of Directors here at the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. Michele offered a heartfelt prayer of gratitude for Dr. Dobson's life and ministry.
Michele Bachmann: My name is Michele Bachmann. I'm privileged to serve on the Board of Directors of the James Dobson Family Institute. Would you bow your heads with me in reverence as we go before the Lord in prayer? Heavenly Father, we gather today with hearts filled with gratitude and sorrow as we remember the life of Dr. James Clayton Dobson. Thank you, Father, for the gift of his life, for the very profound way you used Jim to change the world of marriage, family, parenting, protecting human life, for encouraging salvation and discipleship and public policy. As we mourn Jim's passing, we celebrate his legacy of love for his beloved bride of 65 years, Shirley Deer Dobson, his much-loved children, Danae and Ryan and Laura, and their children, Lincoln and Lucy. Thank you, Father, for the guidance that Jim gave to generations and the remarkable inspiration and hope he gave to each one of us. Lord, would you grant the Dobson family and millions of their worldwide friends comfort in sorrow, peace in our grief, and the assurance of eternal life through faith in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? We invite Your holy presence here today, oh God, and we ask you for the strength as we press forward with Dr. Dobson's ministry through the lessons this consequential man so passionately shared. We loved this man. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray, amen. Dr. Dobson's favorite psalm was Psalm 103 and he asked that this would be read today during this service. Please listen to the word of the Lord. Let all that I am praise the Lord. With my whole heart, I will praise His holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord. May I never forget the good things He does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly. Our days on earth are like grass. Like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows and we are gone, as though we had never been here. But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear Him. His salvation extends to the children's children of those who are faithful to His covenant, of those who obey His commandments. The Lord has made the heavens His throne; from there He rules over everything. Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out His plans, listening for each of His commandments. Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve Him and do His will. Praise the Lord, everything He has created, everything in all His kingdom. Let all that I am praise the Lord. Amen.
Roger Marsh: Michele Bachmann's reading of Psalm 103 reminds us of the eternal perspective that Dr. James Dobson carried throughout his life and ministry. "Let all that I am praise the Lord." In fact, if you ever received anything autographed by Dr. James Dobson, he would sign his name and then include Psalm 103 right alongside his signature. You've been listening to a special edition of Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk, honoring the life and legacy of Dr. James C. Dobson Jr., who went home to be with the Lord last year, August 21st, 2025. If you'd like to hear this program again or share it with a friend you love, visit drjamesdobson.org or jdfi.org. They are one and the same. Now, as we revisit this program nearly one year to the day after Dr. Dobson went home to be with the Lord, we're reminded that his work is not finished. The Dr. James Dobson Family Institute exists to carry his mission forward, reaching new generations with biblical truth, strengthening marriages, equipping parents, and defending the sanctity of human life. For the first 15 years of the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, each year at the end of our calendar year, our staff would compile a Best of Broadcast collection featuring six CDs with 18 of the top programs from the year prior, which included Dr. Dobson's favorite interviews and some of the guests that really made a mark on the ministry here at the JDFI. Last year, after Dr. Dobson passed away, we put together a special memorial legacy edition of our Best of Broadcast collection and we'd like to make that opportunity available to you as well in thanks for your support of the ministry of the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. So, when you make a donation of any amount in support of the JDFI today, we'll be happy to thank you for that contribution by sending you a copy of the legacy edition of Dr. James Dobson's Best of Broadcast collection here at Family Talk. You can reach us by phone when you call a member of our constituent care team. That number is 877-732-6825. That's 877-732-6825. You can also give a gift online. Our secure website is drjamesdobson.org or if it's easier, just go to jdfi.org. Or if you prefer, you can send your request through the US Postal Service. Our ministry mailing address is the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, P.O. Box 39000, Colorado Springs, Colorado, the zip code 80949. Once again, our ministry mailing address is the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, or just use those initials JDFI for short, P.O. Box 39000, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80949. Well, I'm Roger Marsh and on behalf of all of us here at Family Talk and the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, thanks so much for joining us today for this special tribute to our founder. Be sure to be with us again next time as we continue revisiting the memorial service for Dr. James Dobson. That's coming up right here on the next edition of Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk, the voice you trust for the family you love.
Guest (Male): This has been a presentation of the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute.