As a general rule, men don’t like the idea of going on marriage enrichment conferences or retreats. I think I have solved that issue. I have a handful of favorite classic country songs that I really like. The lyrics from those songs could be used as the basis of a male friendly marriage enrichment event. The sessions at the retreat would look like this: Session #1 Daydreams about Night Things, by Ronnie Milsap I’m having day dreams bout night thingsIn…
Last year was a time of reconnecting for me. In some cases, such reconnecting led to much needed reconciliation. Apologies were issued and forgiveness was extended. But mainly it was a time of resurrecting childhood and adolescent era friendships. The experience was rich and fulfilling in a way that is difficult to describe. Perhaps the richness is rooted in the time of life in which we find ourselves. Many of us are watching our children begin, and in some cases…
My Christmas Eve passed by safely without meeting any old lovers in the grocery store. And that suits me just fine! Those of my generation will quickly recognize the reference to Dan Fogelberg’s song from 1981: Same Old Lang Syne from the album The Innocent Age. The opening lyrics to the song are as follows: Met my old lover in a grocery storeThe snow was falling Christmas EveStole behind her in the frozen foodsand I touched her on the sleeveShe…
Christmas is a time when you get homesick, even when you’re home….-Carol Nelson It was 1984. It was our first Christmas together as a married couple. When we got married in August of that year, I had just finished my undergraduate degree in speech communications. My plan was to stay in Lubbock and pursue graduate level work, but at the last minute I withdrew from the program to which I had been accepted. Being with my new bride at that…
What do you expect from a man who is caring for his wife at home with the help of Hospice? His wife of many years has struggled with cancer for some time. The last round of treatments were not helping her, so they sent her home to be as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. What does a man tell his friends during such a time as this? Those of us who are fortunate enough to be in this fine…
Here is a little bit of insight from a veteran preacher: When a church member beckons the minister to “come over here” with a stern look on their face, it is not usually a good sign. And that is exactly what happened to me in 2004, when I moved to Granbury. An elderly lady caught my eye and called me over to talk to her after the worship service. I just assumed that it had only taken me a matter…
My mother always encouraged me to befriend all kinds of people from all walks of life. She urged me not to let age or other barriers hinder meaningful friendship. She modeled that in her own life. She had friends of all ages and from differing backgrounds. I have always tried to do the same. One of my really good friends is a semi-retired university professor. He fits the professor mold ideally. He is over the edge intelligent, reads voraciously, and…
Yesterday I was buying Gerber’s peaches at the United Grocery Store in Wichita Falls to feed Daniel. This weekend he is home from college, so today I paid for him to eat out with his friends. I do believe the Gerber days were cheaper. It really seems like yesterday that he was sitting in his high chair providing commentary on the family life of the Knox household, as he ate the Gerber peaches and hideous pureed green beans. Jan and…
I had no idea how much fun it was going to be watching my kids and the children of my friends grow up. Perhaps I should clarify that statement. It was a blast observing my own children and their peers experiencing the milestones of maturity before they reached adulthood. Today I am referring to observing those same kids choosing life paths as adults. Not long ago I called a child of a friend for legal advice. She is an attorney…
In a 24 hour period, I have had 4 different encounters with people concerned about their children. One parent has a child fighting a serious disease in an Intensive Care Unit at a major university hospital. Another parent is concerned about her 16 year old, who is facing the sudden loss of a lifelong family friend. Two other parents are dealing with serious issues that could follow their children for the rest of their lives. Their kids have made some…