Forcing myself out of bed, I have a choice of things to worry about from a buffet of disasters; the people ravaged by Hurricane Helene, the entire state of Florida that, even as I am writing, face Milton the Monster, and a presidential election that is threatening to engulf our entire nation in an internal war against ourselves. 

There is a terrifying amount of “I want what I want, and I will accept no less!” surrounding this presidential election. 

Horrible times do come, but He has promised His friends that He will be there. To never abandon us.

The result of feeling isolated for years with her pain suddenly erupted from a mouth that had seemingly lost all control of itself.

You stepped out there and thoroughly blew it, and you knew it. All you could do was apologize. Knowing you were wrong you went ahead…you said “I’m sorry.” 

If you see it, you can never unsee it. You hear it, it’s in your memory bank forever. Unless it’s the phone number to the pediatrician when your kid is running a 102 temp at midnight. But usually, everything you see and hear becomes part of you – good and bad. Kind of a scary, intimidating fact. 

Ever been looked squarely in the eyes and bluntly told you are a bitter, angry person? Probably not. After all, who in their right mind wants to be within 12 feet of a bear and throw heavy stones at that huge, furious mass of muscle and bone? Nobody wants to face that.

If you can actually defend a functioning male who has deliberately walked away from his child and refused to be the dad that child needs in life, then you are an enabler. An enabler is someone who physically, mentally or emotionally aids someone else to shirk their responsibilities in life. 

While you are lone-wolfing the stress, you are setting up your spouse to have to do the same if you die from that stress. And that isn’t fair to either of you. Learn to share the truth – and the stress.

No one on this earth gets to own a permanent flat plateau on a mountaintop. Unfortunately.

Well, Mom, you aren’t here this year for Mother’s Day, but I will think of you. I will choose to dwell on the good memories of you, and to forgive the mistakes that may come to my mind. See you when I get there, too.

Remember, some rules and regulations are not made to harm you. I am specifically referring to The Ten Commandments written in your Bible. They are not there to take away the fun in your life and trap you. The One who created you only wants to help you.

Too much constant physical or mental work, with no relaxation for your body and brain, can bring on serious exhaustion. And that kind of tired, with no time for recuperating, is dangerous for you. You run the risk of pushing too far over the edge, which can easily mean that you end up being grounded for a while.

Remember, you may have failed, but you’re not dead yet. You still have time to help yourself learn to succeed. Have the courage to admit your failure, look backward for potholes where you fell, and work at filling them in. Instead of giving in to the temptation to blame someone else.

Back in the ancient days of Fred Flintstone and no cell phones, when he was a young dad and a wet-behind-the-ears pastor, Andy had a habit. No, not a habit like we refer to today. But he unconsciously used a certain phrase – constantly.