Breaking the Glass Backboard April 21, 2024 - The NCAA March Madness is over. However, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark will remain in the record books until another phenom arrives on the court. Caitlan and her basketball peers know what many knew long ago… girl's basketball is a winning ticket! In my daughter's home hangs a shadow-boxed framed letter sweater of purple wool adorned with an embroidered basketball that proudly spells, "1935 Mid-State Champs." Gold medals are attached near the large wooden buttons, which appear as if they were sewn yesterday. My mother was a 5’ 7” mountain girl who weighed 99 pounds in 1935 and played center for Monterey… Read More The Bus to Heaven April 8, 2024 - It was 1950-something when Grandpa (my grandmother) and I usually went into town on Saturday mornings. I always adored visiting the small Tennessee mountain town where she resided. Before she bought groceries, we would swing by the local five-and-dime for candy or a small toy. Sometimes, we went to the department store to look at shoes. Grandpa loved shoes as much as I loved candy. But as I look back, we loved each other more than money could buy. The town square centered around the courthouse where men gathered to whittle and talk about religion, politics, or how the crops… Read More The Closet is Dark! March 25, 2024 - After listening to the news and reading the paper, I hid in the closet…. And maybe I would stay there until it is safe to come out! Kids killing kids, adults behaving like disrespectful brats, and don’t get me started on the absolute nightmare of politics! Sometimes, the harshness of life is just too much. And, for many of us who love people, hiding from the world seems a good solution. The only downside is that the world will stay the same if we live in seclusion. It will only be kinder, safer, and more loving if we dare to… Read More A Time to be Quiet March 11, 2024 - I submitted my first story to the LaGrange Daily News nine years ago. It was a love letter to the west Georgia town that accepted me as a 15-year-old newbie with a Tennessee mountain accent as thick as Dolly Parton's. The editor printed the story in three parts, and within two weeks, I became a weekly columnist for their publication. Today, I am printed in several news outlets, magazines, and national publications because a young editor believed, “Readers need hope and inspiration and an escape from the harshness of other news.” Before starting my column each week, I asked the… Read More Can You Imagine? February 21, 2024 - Can any of us imagine living in a country run by a tyrannical dictator, rife with corruption, and where one is killed or imprisoned if one opposes such evil? A place where truth is optional, freedom to speak is non-existent, and hope is gone. "It is what it is, and there is nothing we can do!" This is an excuse used by people in Russia, America, and other countries worldwide regarding government leadership. Such a statement that is oft-repeated by a nation's people will soon be controlled by someone like Hitler, Putin, or Kim Jong Un. Apathy is the killer… Read More In Need of Good Medicine February 11, 2024 - You know what? We need to laugh more! We should demand television show reruns of The Honeymooners, I Love Lucy, Cheers, and Friends during prime-time hours. Who needs more bad news, murder, lawlessness, and unsolved mysteries? We have an abundance of those in our daily lives. Instead, we need a Jackie, a Lucy, a Norm, or a Pheobe to lighten our moods. I was born into a family who adored life's funny and foolish antics. My Dad was voted "The Wittiest" in high school. He never changed; he could energize a group with his over-the-top wit. Everyone loved him because… Read More NEWS FLASH: Hypocrisy Empties Pews! January 31, 2024 - God is our mighty defender, right? Yet, today, I feel the need to defend Him. Of course, God doesn't need defending by mere humans. The actual defense of our faith is being a witness of his love to those who watch us. In the summer of 1960, I attended a church service with my friends from a different Protestant denomination. It was just before we entered our teen years, and there was much bickering regarding the upcoming Presidential election. Since preteens pay little attention to the happenings outside their orbit, I learned little about politics. When the minister began his… Read More From the Land of Warlocks and Witches January 26, 2024 - "What's that Joe? Little Ruthie asks her slightly older brother as he holds up a mysterious bottle in the bathroom. Joe answers, “Styling Mousse. It's made from moose guts.” Ruthie makes a grimacing face as Joe continues, "And if you spray it on a zombie, it'll die a painful and lingering death. “What’s lingering mean?” Ruthie responds. "Smelly, like Lingburger cheese." Joe casually answers. Ruthie: “Why is cheese so smelly? Joe: It’s so you can tell what you eat in the dark. Ruthie: Why do people eat in the dark? Joe: It’s a tradition in some countries, like Detroit.” Ruthie:… Read More Well, Here We Go! January 18, 2024 - The helmet is awkward, the shoulder pads are too big for the armor, and I can't pick up a thing wearing boxing gloves. However, I am ready to protect myself from the ruckus, chaos, and uncertainty of 2024. As I stumble around the kitchen in my protective garb, I recall those election years when all seemed mostly normal or something other than now. Days when it was our civic duty and honor to vote without fear of retaliation or conflict. I recall casting my first vote after graduating high school, where Miss Owen taught the required Government course in my… Read More How Spectacular Could We Be? January 11, 2024 - My buddy passed away last week after valiantly battling cancer for years. I wrote a story about this man in 2021, "Meet God's Soldier with a Mission," published in several news outlets across the South. Lieutenant Colonel Dan Payne wore so many different hats during his lifetime of service to God and country that he required a room to hang them all. If we are fortunate to live a while, we all wind up with a roomful of hats. We change our roles throughout our lives. Transitioning from child to adult, from mothers and fathers to empty nesters, and from… Read More Cherish: My Chosen Word January 5, 2024 - My friend, Ricki, begins each new year with a word. Her chosen word reminds her to use the term in everything she faces in the coming year. Focus, trust, and thankfulness are a few she has selected over time. Focus and pay attention to things that really matter in life. Trust God even when your mind doubts, and be grateful for all the blessings He bestows. I have never been one to select only one word and try to incorporate it daily into my life. But this year, during the holidays, a single word popped into my mind, and it… Read More Take Christmas to 2024 December 27, 2023 - I don't know about you, but there is a bit of dread as we head to 2024. Since 2020, we have remained in a 48-month-long election cycle. To say I am tired of political rancor and turbulence is quite an understatement. Vying for power is quite ugly and brings out the worst in most people. Then, often, the “worst” filters down to the rest of us becoming followers of bad behavior. Congressmen are leaving Congress; people elect not to vote or care. “I give up!” they say instead of “Let me try giving and doing more to help!” Is the… Read More A Present Help in Trouble December 15, 2023 - A friend unexpectedly passed away, and another is in the hospital with an undetermined illness. A father has just entered hospice care, and a mother lost her only child. Cancer will strike someone today, while another receives equally horrific news. A loved one will betray another, a friendship will end, and someone will lose their job. More children will die from the brutality of war or abuse while a teenager suffers an illegal drug overdose. All of this is happening now to someone somewhere near us. And even as I type these words, a tear falls for those who I… Read More Because a Child Was Born December 11, 2023 - She was only 24 and being wheeled into surgery to remove a brain tumor. During the long operation, her heart stopped. The staff recorded the time of death at 10:55 am. The team of doctors and nurses struggled to revive her, but only to find out later that she was disappointed they did so. While unresponsive, Angela floated away to find an indescribable freedom and meet the Lord's face. Just as He was ready to take her hand, she returned to the body she had left behind in the operating room. Once in recovery, she told the doctor what she… Read More David’s Tree: The Heart of Christmas December 4, 2023 - It was early December 2011 when it was decided that my husband and I must be physically separated during Christmas. David's mother had planned for months to travel to our house from New Orleans for the holidays. My two grown stepdaughters were overjoyed that their MawMaw was joining the family for Christmas. I, on the other hand, was planning to leave for Florida to help my daughter through the holidays as she dealt with the effects of chemotherapy while working and taking care of her six-year-old child. While anticipation graced our home in Georgia, difficulty seeped through the doors in… Read More Dear Fellow Holiday Souls, November 27, 2023 - A few years ago, I decided to relinquish my Crazy Christmas Queen crown. I even mentioned this idea in a column, and my husband (bless his heart) was relieved thinking his prayers were answered. They were not. Christmas begins whirling in my head toward the end of July. And, when the leaves start to turn brown, and the weather dips below 85 degrees, my Christmas fever rises, and it doesn’t drop until January 1. Each New Year's Day, my resolution is to give up the Christmas crown and grow up. However, I haven't reached the over-blown grown-up status yet, nor… Read More A Year of Thankfulness November 22, 2023 - Every day, a new poll is released by someone regarding different issues in America. Would you vote for him or her? Do you believe the economy is the most critical American problem? Is the country headed in the right direction or not? Countless polls whose tallies change daily according to what is going on in the news. No matter what the polls say about us and how we feel about our society, there is one matter we should agree on…. Thankfulness. The truth is we are not grateful enough for our blessings. I mean, none of us… zero, nada, no… Read More Our Veterans Deserve More November 10, 2023 - While we can never do enough to show gratitude to our nation’s defenders, we can always do a little more.” Gary Sinise Mr. Sinise is correct; we can always do more to thank our soldiers who line our streets with freedom. Their sacrifice and courage are often set aside by headlines, political mumbo jumbo, or our personal worlds. When we become absorbed in our daily routines, we often fail to remember that without them, we would have no political mumbo jumbo or headlines. Freedom of the press, freedom to vote, and freedom to succeed and worship come at a high… Read More Needing to Count Blessings November 2, 2023 - By the time you read this, hopefully, I will be sailing away. Yes, we are heading on a much-needed mission to find tranquility. It’s called vacation, and to be honest, I have never been good at those things. As a matter of fact, I know God left out the ‘relaxation’ gene when he made me. When I do go on vacation, I usually feel somewhat guilty or embarrassed because there is something I should have done or forgot to do before I sat down. Furthermore, it does bother me to go on such a lavish adventure when so many are… Read More The Soulless Ones October 18, 2023 - Today, many are living through terrifying and horrific hours. Children are brutally murdered at the hands of human animals. Whether the beast is dressed in a pristine suit watching a parade of his Russian troops or the dirty rascals dressed in fatigues in the Middle East, they are still the same: pure evil. For most decent people, it is hard to imagine how one becomes soulless, but power, ego, and warped beliefs can destroy anyone's heart. Unfortunately, these creatures live among all people everywhere. How their ability to influence so many with their deranged, narcissistic minds has always been a… Read More the Ultimate Battle October 14, 2023 - “Lord, remind me to just breathe and let the cool fall air seep into my senses and calm my soul. Between ridiculous wars waged in the halls of our Congress and the battles abroad, we need your professional help. I often wonder if you are walking away and ending this old world. I couldn't blame you much. For those who have read your book's last chapter, you are following the words John wrote and what he saw. Fires, earthquakes, wars, immoral selfish leaders, self-righteous folks, and turmoil fill our earth. Now Israel attacked? Wow! And even though you do know… Read More Where is the Good News? October 8, 2023 - A reader recently wrote a note to an editor after my column appeared in their Sunday morning paper. "I cannot tell you how much I enjoy your weekly faith articles since we don't get much good news anymore." After the editor passed it on, I responded to the gentleman's email with a big thank you and how he made my day. I thought about his words for quite a while and realized how his kindness was passed through several people before it landed in front of my eyes. Passing kindness is always good news. From acts of tenderness to… Read More Are Our Hearts in the Right Place? October 1, 2023 - For several years, I have grieved, stewed, yelled, and prayed over the state of our states. I have read, studied, and written about the effects of hatred, division, anger, and distrust. Somedays, I am disheartened by how some folks value politics, conspiracies, and money more than they do living a loving, compassionate life. Which, to me, is an affront to God. One of my editors recently told me after I sent her my weekly column, "Lynn, if you need a break, please take one." She must have read between the words that the state of our states was really getting… Read More Those Watershed Moments September 21, 2023 - I am writing to you from a room that needs refreshing. The paint color is not horrible, but some of it is gone. I would get right to work if I had a bucket of good latex. However, applying putty to fill many nail holes and climbing a ladder from a hospital bed is problematic. When one is imprisoned and chained to hoses, wires, and whatever that thing is above me, forget doing anything. Trust me, I tried escaping, but sirens blared, and police dressed in scrubs quickly cuffed me. Darn. Everything was just fine Saturday morning after a great… Read More A Sea of Worry September 12, 2023 - Recently, a bout of sleepless, restless, nightmare-filled nights accompanied me to bed. I am not a huge worrier, but lately, fretting, anger, and anxiety have chosen to rest on my soul, especially when I desire to sleep! Not fair! Other than our personal journeys today, we are citizens of a country that appears all discombobulated. Some folks seek calm, while others stoke fear. Some work diligently to feed their families, while others steal for themselves. While many preach law and order, some don't trust the law. A few believers in the Almighty hurl insults and threats, thus turning others away… Read More From Tiny to Tremendous November 27, 2022 - On a cold January day in 1946, their fourth child, a girl, was born in a one-room cabin in the hills of Tennessee. More babies arrived in the following years, and the parents had little to offer their twelve children except for music, love, and faith. When the spirited girl with dimpled cheeks walked to school in her hand-sewn clothes and dusty shoes, she would often be teased and mocked because she was poor. But even though she was tiny, she stood proudly tall. Perhaps, her mama read the Bible to her youngsters each day, and her child recalled the… Read More Salute the Vietnam Warriors May 27, 2021 - While recently thumbing through my old Tennessee and Georgia high school yearbooks, tears pooled in my eyes. Yes, they were all there, young men with hope in their eyes and their youth on the edge of disappearing. I wonder what they would have accomplished in their lives if they had the promise of a future. Would they laugh as I do at the silly antics of a grandchild? Would they still possess the impish grin the camera caught in the 60s? Maybe Howard would have made it onto the big screen with his good looks. Perhaps Bobby would be a… Read More