Opinion

I like this time of year when it starts getting cooler and the leaves start changing color. When I see all the beautiful colors of the leaves I am reminded of the splendor, majesty, and goodness of God. Due to our fast-paced culture and busy schedules, many times it is difficult to think about God and be thankful. Also if we have never accepted Jesus Christ as savior and Lord we may not have an attitude of gratitude, (John 10:10, Matthew 6:33, John 1:4, 1 John 5:11). As I look back and think about how my parents provided for me when I was growing up; like a roof over my head, clothes on my back, bread on the table, shoes on my feet, care when I was sick, and a home with love, it makes me realize that I was very blessed. They have both gone on to be with the Lord but I wished I had spent more time thanking them and appreciating all they did for me. My grandmother used to sing a little song, “count your many blessings, name them one by one” This holiday season lets us enjoy and give thanks for the many blessings God has given us. There are some verses in (Psalm 75:1;107:1,2,15,22,43) that give reminders as to why we are to be thankful, (Psalms 30:4 & 35:18 & 97:12 and Colossians 3:16).

Genesis 2:8-16 8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

GARDENER’S MAILBAG Dear Neil: I am trying to remove lawn grass from a part of my yard. There are three large, old crape myrtles in that area, and they have extensive root systems.

The world is nothing but murders, massacres and the threat of war. It’s gotten so bad, you wake up and ask, “Who died overnight?” Or “Whose rockets and bombs hit who this time?” I’ll go out on a limb here and blame most of the world’s turmoil and tragedy on President Biden and his handlers.

The Texas Legislature, conceived as a part-time body to meet every other year for 140 days, is now in its record fifth session (counting the regular session). When the impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is included, legislators have been in Austin pretty much the entire year, as the Texas Tribune noted. While legislators are paid just $7,200 a year in salary, per diem payments – meant to cover their expenses while in Austin – have mounted. If the fourth special session goes a full 30 days, taxpayers will have spent $4.8 million keeping lawmakers in Austin.

GARDENER’S MAILBAG Dear Neil: I noticed last night that I had about a dozen hammerhead worms crawling onto my porch. They were one to two inches long.

As the clock ran down on the Legislature’s third special session, Texas House and Senate leaders exchanged barbs over Gov. Greg Abbott’s school choice bill and border security proposals, the Austin American- Statesman reported.

According to my extensive research (approximately five minutes on Google when I should have been folding underwear), the Chinese zodiac system assigns an animal symbol to each year. It is believed that people born in a given year have the personality of that year’s animal. For example, based on the placemats at my favorite Chinese buffet, I was born in the Year of the Dog, which means I am loyal, honest and difficult to housebreak.