My daughter, Krystal, is getting ready for her first parade as Loyalty Queen in 1983. To win, she delivered a patriotic speech about America, discussing the Founders and what it means to be an American. The VFW in Ravenna, Ohio, sponsored the event. She was 14 at the time. It led to her winning three times.

Loyalty Day began in 1921 as Americanization Day and was renamed Loyalty Day in 1955 under President Eisenhower to promote patriotism and counter May Day’s association with labor movements and communism.

If the neighborhood looks rundown, it’s because it’s an old neighborhood. It can’t be seen, but my daughter is facing the first home we owned. It’s where I lived while attending law school, studying in a small room where an old man had died. It was bought from an estate; he was probably the previous owner. Back then, you could buy a small home for $17,000.

Our neighbor, Ron, who owned the car, is smoking and talking to my dad. I have no clue who the other girl is.

I tend never to worry because I’ve always felt it’s a pointless exercise to dwell on something beyond my control. For example, a medical test, no amount of worry or lack of it, will change the result. That doesn’t mean I don’t get concerned, but I choose not to let unnecessary anxiety take hold, always remaining optimistic.

While I don’t consciously reflect on this verse, perhaps unconsciously, through belief and faith, it has always been present for me, as it is for all of us. My trust in God’s care isn’t something I have to force; it simply exists, woven naturally into my perspective. It’s available to everyone, just as it is for all of us.

On or about this date in 2013, I was asked to speak at a banquet honoring a gentleman named Ken Bussart, pictured in a wheelchair, along with my wife, Dawn, and me. This was different, though. The address would be recorded on video played at the banquet in Ken’s honor. For me, it was a new experience. In court, I delivered opening and closing arguments essentially without notes.

For this, I wanted notes and wrote out my comments. When I arrived for the taping, I sat in the open sitting on a tall chair similar to a barstool. The problem was immediately apparent–I would be sitting and reading. The optics wouldn’t be great; worst of all, I’d be sitting in the audience, watching it. Not only that, but I thought it would be posted on YouTube. What should have been heartfelt would instead be preserved forever as me looking like a sixth-grader reading a book report to my class.

It’s not on YouTube, though I wish it were. I tried to get a copy for years but couldn’t. What follows is from my Facebook Memories today. For whatever reason, it won’t share. Following is the original writing.

I took part in a video today, which may or may not be on YouTube. The logo was added just to catch your attention. I’ve been interviewed for television news, been a guest on some radio shows over the years, including hosting, and have done two or three training videos in the past. So, a question-and-answer format is easy to do.

What I found odd about this one was that I asked the woman if she would ask me questions or if I was supposed to speak off the top of my head about the subject. It’s for an awards banquet, so I can’t go into that aspect now, but she asked if I knew what the award was all about. I knew a little, but not enough. She said she would read what the award was about, and we could use that as a starting point.

So she did and said she wanted to know how it related to the person being honored. It was nice of her to read me the full award description in advance. So, just by way of chat, I told her. She listened, asked questions, I’d tell her some more. Finally, she said that it sounded good or great; however, she worded it. I said thanks and told her I wasn’t sure I could do that again because, really, I didn’t know if I’d remember what I had just said since it wasn’t rehearsed. I thought it was a good practice run, though. Plus, I had some notes as an outline.

But no, the camera had been running while I was chatting with her about the award and what I thought I would say once we started. We were done except for a final few words while I looked directly at the camera. And I’ll probably look fat to boot!

Proverbs 31:26-27 is closely tied to Mother’s Day, as it celebrates the wisdom, kindness, and diligence of a good woman, qualities often embodied by mothers.

Verse 26 describes a woman who speaks with wisdom and imparts kindness, reflecting the nurturing and guiding role that mothers fulfill.

Verse 27 emphasizes her care for her household, illustrating a mother’s unwavering commitment to her family’s well-being. This is where my wife would likely insert the idea that a mother’s love for her child(ren) is unconditional.

Proverbs 31, written between 600 and 1000 years before the birth of Christ, shares lessons from the writer’s mother and is traditionally attributed to King Solomon. The words remain just as true today, particularly in verse 27.

This passage highlights a mother’s diligence, responsibility, and care in managing her home and fulfilling her roles as nurturer, provider, protector, and guide.

Consider this: mothers ensure their family’s needs are met, whether through physical care, emotional support, or spiritual guidance.

Even the phrase “does not eat the bread of idleness” is significant, meaning no rest. Mothers are actively engaged in making decisions and fostering a loving environment.

Beyond all this, as if there could be more, mothers often juggle multiple responsibilities: caretaking, teaching, and mentoring, and their influence extends far beyond the home, shaping the values and character of future generations.

The last sentence turned into a paragraph that resonated deeply with me.

I added verse 28 as a special touch, just in case my wife happens to see this. The original image only had the first two verses, but something felt incomplete. Before posting, I took another look and discovered verse 28—unmarked, yet present. It felt like God was working overtime for me. I wanted her to know how much I love her and to wish her a very Happy Mother’s Day!

It’s unfortunate to write something like this every year, but it was a busy time on the phone with parents. My feeling today is that if an attorney needs to be called, there’s some bad parenting going on.

Celebrating Mother’s Day After Divorce

What I write here also applies when Father’s Day rolls around. Both days are a special time for each parent and their children. On Mother’s Day, children express love and appreciation for their mothers. The way it was once celebrated changes after divorce, but the kids’ feelings don’t, aside from the fact that most kids would like to see their parents still together. I learned this as Guardian ad Litem.

Mother’s Day after divorce can cause stress or tension between parents and sometimes other family members. It shouldn’t. It should be a day to show your kids that even though Mom and Dad aren’t together, everyone respects Mom’s role in the family (and Dad’s on Father’s Day).

If divorced, treat Mother’s and Father’s Day as parent-specific holidays. Regardless of the visitation schedule, kids should be able to spend each occasion with the celebrated parent. Likewise, a mom should be able to enjoy a fun, stress-free day spent with her kids. However, come June and Father’s Day, the roles are reversed again.

Suppose, though, the parents do not live close to each other. The drive may not be convenient, but it is a weekend, and something can be arranged. If not, children should be encouraged to call or have a little video chat with their mom. The other parent should work with the kids to come up with gift ideas for Mom, just as Mom should do the same for Dad on Father’s Day if the situation is reversed. I believe an essential key is to keep the kids as actively involved as much as possible.

You may have divorced your spouse, but you didn’t divorce your kids. You may have custody, but this doesn’t mean the other parent is no longer a parent. It’s about working together as parents for the kids’ best interests.

In the past, you had a way of celebrating holidays. Those days are over, so it’s time to develop new ideas and new traditions. And hey, maybe mom and dad can suck it up for a couple of hours and get together with the kids for brunch or dinner. Consider the children’s ages and what message it may send them.

Happy Mother’s Day, and next month, Happy Father’s Day!