The happiest of people do not necessarily have the best of everything: they just make the best of everything that comes their way. If we are to be truly happy, and please understand there is a difference between happiness and joy, we must learn how to handle adversity. This is to say, the trials and tribulations that come along in each of our lives. It has been truthfully said that into each life a little rain must fall -- not WILL fall but MUST fall. If you are not facing…

Are you aware that, in most cases, there is more than one way to do the right thing? I heard a true story a while back that will certainly illuminate this important concept. It seems a man and his wife in one of our Western states had a horse farm and raised Tennessee Walking Horses. Working part time, after school and on weekends on the farm for this couple was a young boy by the name of Jimmy. Jimmy loved to be around the horses, was earning a little extra…

It has been said that unless we are building our lives on truth we are building on sand, and a life built on myths, speculations, lies and half-truths cannot stand. Regardless of our age, where we live, what we do, or who our ancestors were, we should all seek to live by the truth. In the end, that is the only thing that will endure. Along these lines, a friend sent me something the other day by an unknown author that I believe to be the truth. Please allow me…

There is one good thing about being “simple minded,” and that is it does not take much to make your day. I have this happen quite often, which probably confirms what you have suspected all along. That reminds me of the fella who saw his friend “walk on water.” After he saw him do it for the second time, this fella said, “I can do that,” and his friend said, “go ahead.” The moment this fella stepped on the water, he sunk like a rock. With this series of events,…

Back in late 2022, the Arkansas State House of Representatives put out a report that said there were 300,000 adults in my state who did not have a high school diploma. This story and report were carried in our local newspaper. Can you believe that? In a state with only three million people, and this includes children, there are 300,000 adults who did not graduate from high school. When I read this, I said to myself, “This is totally unacceptable to me.” Since it is “unacceptable”, with God’s help, and…

In some circles, what I am going to say in today’s column will be about as popular as a skunk at a family picnic. But first, this brief disclaimer. You know that I am not a preacher and I try to never attempt to tell anyone how to live their life. What I am going to say is just some thoughts from my heart that could make a difference in the lives of some readers who need to know or be reminded of some very important things. I also know…

Several weeks ago, I shared a column titled “Arkansas: The Natural State” and gave some information about our wonderful state. If you live in another part of the country, I am sure your state is wonderful, too. In all of us together, we form the greatest nation in the history of the world: The United States of America. After writing this column the thought occurred to me that since most people don’t know much about their own state, must less the other 49, there might be some value, if there…

While none of us likes to get our feathers ruffled, occasionally someone needs to say something to set the record straight. This is especially true when it involves the direction our country is heading – which only leads to a dark rainy night, with no sign, and a bridge out up ahead. What I am talking about is the inordinate amount of excitement for the sports culture in which our nation presently lives. When you pay an assistant college coach $400,000 a year, and he leaves to take a head…

As I am sure you know, human beings are creatures of habit. We just get in the habit of doing certain things and continue to do them until they are acted upon by some outside force. With age, our habits change with certain events in our lives. We get in the habit of going to school when we are young, going to work when we get older, and trying to take it easy when we get old enough to retire. If we form good habits, we will be successful. If…