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“I’m going to take the pontoon out tonight, and you’re invited to join me,” my parents’ neighbor Rod told them. It was a nice night—not too warm, with very little wind.

Weather-related disasters have increased in frequency and severity across the U.S. over the past five years, and when communities are impacted by things such as flooding, severe storms, hurricanes, wildfires, or earthquakes, the chaos can become overwhelming — especially when you have a furry companion looking to you for reassurance and support.

It seems that the twenty-first century has produced a general feeling among the female of the species that men are no longer needed. I read articles and see programs on television produced by young, liberated feminists who espouse the idea that they have no need for a man in their lives. They are educated, own their own businesses, and only need a man for pro-creation. They can then rear their children alone – who needs a man around? Any time a program or commercial needs a dufus, guess who gets that part – the white guy. It would be a politically incorrect thing for a female to do.

“His will be done on earth as it is in heaven” is our choice to pray, fully trusting in the outcome to be the best for all. If we could have adopted this prayer as early as in our teens, I wonder how many mindless actions we would have avoided?

It had been one of those days during the summer of 1972. We were in the hay fields and it was hotter than a two dollar pistol that year so the hay was a beautiful wheat color on the ground. We were chugging water and soaked in sweat, doing anything we could to keep cool. We weren't having much luck at it though. This is how my friend and I spent most of our summers, hauling hay by daylight and taking our girls to town in the evening. That day, I was on the tractor and my foot slipped off the tractor’s clutch pedal, making the tractor jump forward. My friend was in front of the tractor and I plum ran him over. This was Richard Smith, you know, the former Sabine County judge and post master Richard Smith. Boy was this a bad day for both of us! Richard wasn't hurt much, just a bit sore, but my daddy had a bunch of choice words about the incident for me.