I remember when I was a boy looking at old men in wonderment. They were either my grandfather or someone else’s grandfather. I knew my granddaddy was once a farmer and he still dabbled with farming. He helped my Daddy with a few things, had a garden, and sometimes had a little patch of corn. He got a few dollars every month from the plan put in place by FDR.
Continue reading “Old Men”Sharing a Little Gold Dust
It is amazing how all the people we cross paths with in life leave a mark on us. As I get a little further in this journey, I am more conscious than ever to leave a little gold dust on others that I have scraped off the Throne of Grace.
Continue reading “Sharing a Little Gold Dust”What Gets Heaven’s Attention?
People are fickle. Politicians worry about what the polls say. Internet gurus worry about clicks. Media folks look at the ratings. Churches count the heads.
Continue reading “What Gets Heaven’s Attention?”Constant As a Tree
We have a big willow oak (similar to a water oak) in our yard. It is part of the image of our home. My children literally grew up with this tree. I remember tying some of our horses to it back in the day, when it was only about eight inches in diameter. Now this monster is about 32 inches in diameter and a crazy eight feet or so around.
Continue reading “Constant As a Tree”Resolution: An Improved You or A New You?
Now at the flipping of the calendar to a New Year, all around us the marketing has begun to sell us a new diet plan, a book on how to be a better you, a program to get you out of debt, or a plan to get you a house on a cul-de-sac (country boys call it a dead-end). Some of that you may need but…
Continue reading “Resolution: An Improved You or A New You?”Above Ground and Limber (Be Thankful)
Some years back, I called to check on a longtime friend; he answered the phone and I asked him how he was doing. His answer, “Well brother, I’m above ground and limber!” [Thanks Bro. William Borden for that one-liner; I have often used it since that day.] After the two years we all have been through, if you are reading this—you got through it. Yep, you are “above ground and limber!” Be Thankful!
Continue reading “Above Ground and Limber (Be Thankful)”From Death to Life
Life is a strange phenomenon. Being raised on a small farm, I learned early about life and death. As a small boy, I could easily discern if a puppy or baby pig was sleeping or dead. Later, I learned to scratch the bark of a twig with my thumbnail to see if the cambium layer (inner bark) was alive (light green) or dead (brown).
Continue reading “From Death to Life”The “Threes” of Living
Many of us have had the sensation of being underwater and needing air. In that situation, seconds are like eternity, and we will fight and claw to get a breath of air. There are very few people who can “hold their breath” for even a minute.
There is a common saying based on threes when it comes to survival or living. Most of these are not original with me and I am not sure who said any first. “Our life is in jeopardy if we have three minutes without oxygen, three hours of extreme exposure, three days without water, and three weeks without food.” The three common basics of living are food, water, and shelter (air being a given).
Continue reading “The “Threes” of Living”When Sister Thelma Died
She was lying on a hospital bed in the living room of her 60’s styled home. The month before, she had turned 86 and had lived as a widow for five years. Her paid caretakers had watched over her as her family had increased their visits knowing her departure was sooner than later.
Continue reading “When Sister Thelma Died”Simple Pleasures
Some folks just don’t know how to be happy! They chase a dream that is just beyond their grasp and are blind to the blessings in their hand.
Continue reading “Simple Pleasures”