A LITTLE FINALITY: A LITTLE ASSURANCE

I loved Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. And Jingles. I didn't want the show to be over on Saturday mornings, usually one of the last shows I watched at 11:00, I believe. But when it was over, there was always the song, "Happy Trails." What a great song. Wishing me happy trails and assuring me we would meet again. Next Saturday.

Maybe that's why I always dismissed my classes, well, that's not right, the bell dismissed my classes, but I always added, "See you tomorrow." I thought some just might have needed that assurance, that God willing, I would be there the next day. Sometimes in their world there may not have been that routine, that pattern, that security. That whatever happened to them when they left my class that day, that when their trail led back to me, I'd be there.

A statistic I heard this week from Patrick Morley revealed that in 2003, 40% of children went to sleep in their house without one of their biological parents present. That's staggering to me. And that was 6 years ago. Do you think it's improved? Me neither.

I just hope when the one who left the child wished happy trails. Or should I have written happy trials?

As the giver of the statistic said, "Divorce is never final. Don't even think about it."

And if your parents stuck together, weathered the storms and rough patches, give them thanks on Mother's Day 2009.