It’s arrived. The Holiday of holidays for many.

As Christmas carols were sung and Christmas bells rung, Henry thought back on two tremendous tragedies that darkened his holiday spirit. His loving wife, Frances, had been fatally burned in an accident in their home. Then his son, Charles, had been severely wounded in the war.

The old man is sitting on his front porch is his favorite rocking chair and talking to a his freshly minted twentyone-year-old grandson – attempting to encourage him to think things over clearly before deciding. To make decisions for his life based on clear facts, a living God, and real love. Instead of impulse, illogical dreams, and irrational hopes.

Each week the first thing I read in the paper is John Bill’s column. They are all great, but his Thanksgiving column is one of my alltime favorites. John Bill is a life-long friend and a multi-talented individual. Our readers look forward to his weekly column. We appreciate him so very much.

Each year we receive many letters to Santa. I always enjoy reading them.

Imagine; someone you love has badanoma cancer. Dr.

Thanks (again) to Al Wilburn for uncovering this little jewel. Not for a single moment do I believe that ANY of these clever observations apply to Al.

There are parents who say “My children are my whole world.” While it’s true I like children and passionately love my own, when I hear a parent bragging about their total devotion to their kids it makes me think their world is too small and so is their child’s world.

Here’s what happens so often. A person becomes an adult, marries, has children, grows ill or old, and dies. Then the family of the deceased comes together to grieve, and to then plan the funeral. The flower shop gets notified to send flowers, and they all attend the service where the bouquets are usually on display. Afterwards, they often follow the casket to the burial site and watch attentively as the flowers they ordered are placed on the grave. Then the family slowly and mournfully walks away, to grieve and attempt to somehow get on with their lives again. Putting the pieces back together somehow, so they can begin living day to day. But without the one they lost.

We live in an age that is obsessed with things. We fill our homes with the latest gadgets and fashions and then, when we run out of space, rent a storage unit.