Dear Julien, You are fortunate. You have a mother and dad who love you. In this crazy world, that is nothing to be taken for granted. By the time you read this letter, you will have had the opportunity to be frustrated with both of your parents. No worries. That is quite normal. There are a few things you need to know about your mother. Your mother is exceptionally bright. She has a sharp intellect that will help you in…
Everyone told me. I heard the same message. Holding your newborn grandson will be like nothing you have ever experienced. One friend told me I would feel emotions that I did not know existed. They were correct. It is one of those things you will never forget. But there was a surprise in the mix. Watching my son be a dad left my speechless. He is assuming his paternal role with such grace and patience. He expertly comforts his son,…
My Dear Grandson, You came into this world late last night. You were a few days early, so what a surprise! It is July 12th, 2021. I am marveling over your newborn pictures. I cannot wait to hold you for the first time. Your birth brings back vivid memories of your father’s entrance into this world on May 22nd, 1992. Your grandma went into labor during the middle of the night, so we had a friend come over to watch…
To My Grandson, 32 years-ago this week I enjoyed a week of vacation from my job. I scheduled that time away for a specific purpose. Your Uncle Randall was supposed to enter this world on July 7th, 1989. His mother’s due date was on THAT day, so naturally I thought he would be born on time. Uncle Randall was 8 days late. He was born on July 15th. You will soon learn that our beloved Randall has been late ever…
Where do you call home? That is a confusing question for me. I have two school reunions this year. One is in Racine, Wisconsin. I went to school in Racine through the 7th grade. I still consider Racine home. My formative years there were memorable, and the people I grew up with are priceless. But the family moved to Lubbock in June of 1975. I completed high school there in 1980. And I went on to complete an undergraduate degree…
December 11, 2011 John Knox Comments 0 Comment Who Says Cops don’t cry…. I would like to say that the title to this piece is original, but it is not. Curtis Harrelson was the first police chief I served under. He composed an article by the same title for a professional journal over twenty years ago. It was excellent. Of course, I can’t find the article anywhere! I officiated at Chief Harrelson’s funeral in 2009. I can’t pretend to replicate his thoughts, but…
I just mentioned it in passing…. I would like to buy a real camera and dabble in photography. The conversation was with my firstborn son. He is an expert on cameras. He works for a company that leases all kind of equipment to film production companies in Hollywood. I cannot believe what he knows. It is mind boggling. Several weeks ago, he flew in from Los Angeles. He and I made the trek to Edmond, OK to assist one of…
As a law enforcement chaplain, I have been entrusted with delivering death notifications on school campuses on several occasions over the past 31 years. In 1994, I told a young teacher that a little ten-year-old girl in her class had been killed in an early morning house fire. I learned something about the student-teacher bond that day. And I spent the day with a class full of second graders after telling them that their classmate had been killed the night…
I am far too quick to criticize. Why was I not included in that social event? Why did they not bother to call me on that holiday? The list could get long fast. People do not fulfill what I perceive as basic expectations. And then I proceed to have a critical spirit toward them. When I find myself becoming “twisted up” by the perceived hurtful actions of others, I have started asking myself a simple question. Do I fulfill the…
I recently completed documents to make changes in some of my life insurance. Insurance companies want to know every tiny detail about your health history, and they also want to know about your family of origin as well. I submitted the documents. That was followed by a telephone interview. The lady basically asked me the same questions that I had answered in the submitted paperwork. It felt redundant to me. I was mildly irritated. But that soon changed… As she…