Honor Thy Mother and Father

Hello friends, family, and Phillips County I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed holiday season! I got the opportunity to spend Christmas and New Years in Malta. Initially, I believed my time would be spent sitting around the house and playing basketball with the girls. This was not the case. I have caught up with more classmates in the past two weeks than I have in the years since we graduated. I have understood since childhood that you gradually grow apart from the friends you make before graduation. However, I never realized how isolated you can get when you lack the initiative to socialize and maintain relationships. It’s kind of freaky actually… maybe that’s why my new year’s resolution is to contact a new friend daily throughout 2016. It should be a very interesting year, and I can’t wait to keep you all updated on its progress.

Since returning home, many of you have talked to me about these columns. I’d like to thank all of you for the kind words. It means a lot knowing you guys have an interest in my words and myself. There really is nothing more special than a small town community. I can gratefully say that many families have adopted me as a child of their own. I can happily say that my family has always done the same for my friends. That’s something that doesn’t exist everywhere. Especially in a world like today’s where nothing seems simple and innocent anymore.

In a world where 26-percent of children live with one parent (those numbers change drastically when race is a variable), I encourage you to treat young minds in a positive manner. You never know what path a stranger is walking. Be the positive influence in the minds of our future. God only knows what problems we will be facing in 15 years, but I can make a confident guess our generation will be responsible for fixing them.

I guess what I am trying to get across is that I’m thankful for my relationship with my mom and dad. They are my foundation and the only thing that has remained consistent in my life. Without either of them my life would be drastically different. Without their positive influences I feel like I would be in a way darker place. In conclusion: “Be the change you wish to see”.