God finishes what our love begins.

There are seasons when we can’t see what’s ahead, but we can still trust the One who walks with us and talks with us along the way. This is a conversation about worrying about how we did as parents.

Me:  I think about my parenting sometimes, and I wonder if what I did was enough. I tried. I cared. I meant well. I planted what I could with the strength I had. But I may never get to see the fullness of the seeds I planted, and that leaves me unsure.

God: The work you did was not wasted. Love that costs something is never wasted. The dirt on your hands was not failure. It was evidence of faithfulness. You showed up with a sincere heart, even on the days you felt tired, overwhelmed, or afraid.

Me:  But I don’t know how it will all turn out. I may not live long enough to see the harvest of my work, whether my work was good or bad.

God: Most seeds grow in hidden places. Most roots strengthen long before anything breaks the surface. And many harvests come in seasons the planter never sees. Nothing planted in love disappears. I tend what you began.

Me:  So even if I never see the results, You’re still working.

God: Yes. Your labor was not in vain. Your love continues in ways you cannot measure. And where your strength ended, My care continued. Trust Me with the chapters you won’t be here to read.

This Conversation is not meant as God’s literal speech. It reflects how Scripture portrays how God works for those who trust Him. God finishes what our love begins. It’s a reminder that the work of love is slow, often hidden, and never wasted, and that the God who sees the seeds also tends the harvest.

There are seasons when we can’t see what’s ahead, but we can still trust the One who walks with us and talks with us along the way. This is a conversation about worrying about war.

Me:   Everywhere I look, it feels like the world is unraveling. More countries are fighting, and the Middle East seems like it could explode at any moment. I know these things have happened before, but this time it feels closer, heavier. I’m worried about what could happen next.

God: You’re watching the world through a window that shows you danger but not My presence. Wars rise and fall, nations clash, and leaders make choices that shake the earth — but none of it happens outside My sight. Fear grows when you imagine a future without Me in it.

Me:     But it’s hard not to imagine the worst. It feels like everything is fragile.

God:  The world has always been fragile. Your security never came from stability, but from Me. I have carried My people through wars, exiles, invasions, and upheavals far greater than what you see now. I have not changed.

Me:   I just don’t want to see more suffering. And I don’t want to live in fear of what might happen.

God:  Fear looks at what could be. Faith looks at who I am. You cannot control nations or armies, but you can rest in the One who holds them. I do not ask you to predict the future. I ask you to trust that I will be with you in it, whatever it brings.

Me:   So I don’t have to keep imagining every possible outcome?

God:  No. You can release what you cannot carry. Pray for peace. Do good where you are. And remember: the world is not held together by human strength, but by My mercy.

Many people feel anxious when they see multiple conflicts erupting at once, like what is happening right now with Iran. This conversation reminds us that Scripture consistently shows God present in times of war, upheaval, and uncertainty. Fear grows when we imagine the future without God, but faith grows when we remember His character, His history with His people, and His promise to be with us in every circumstance.

Romans 12:18 says the believer wants peace but recognizes it is not always possible because there will be those who refuse it.

This Conversation is not meant as God’s literal speech. It reflects how Scripture portrays God’s steadiness in times of conflict: “Be not afraid,” “I am with you,” “Nation will rise against nation,” and “My peace I give to you.” The Bible never promises a world without war, but it does promise a God who remains faithful, present, and sovereign even when the world feels unsafe.

[Note: Not long ago, on social media, I told people to challenge comments, live or in writing, and fight back against the Left relentlessly.

We have a school class page on Meta. It’s non-political, but it gets violated, yet no one speaks up. A guy named Gary did by posting the attachment, said it was a great writing, and was condescending to those commenting. The comments were weak, though.

Here’s my response. Everything is now deleted. Fight these people.]

Dear Class of ’71 folks,

This page has stayed drama-free for years because we’ve kept politics out. Period. No left-wing screeds, no right-wing memes—just old photos, reunion plans, stories about friends we lost touch with, and those football games we barely remember winning (or the epic losses that still sting).

The vicious rant Gary posted—calling Trump a “festering carcass,” “prize hog,” “Klansman,” “back-alley creep,” etc.—didn’t just cross the line; it torched it. It’s not “clever writing” or some poetic call for unity (hilariously ironic given Gary’s half-hearted “sorry… we all need to COME TOGETHER!” non-apology). It’s a hateful, personal smear that directly insults anyone here who voted for Trump, supports him, or simply doesn’t buy into that level of venom. And let’s be real: plenty in this class voted for him—some for Harris, some third-party, some sat it out. Posting this garbage here isn’t innocent sharing; it’s a deliberate gut-punch to half (or more) of your own classmates, from an outsider who’s not even Crestwood ’71.

Gary, you dropped this bomb, apologized weakly, then kept escalating instead of deleting it like people asked. That hypocrisy is glaring—you claim to want unity while shoving extreme partisan rage into a nostalgia group. The author? Oliver Kornetzke, a far-left writer from small-town Wisconsin (Kiel area) whose stuff floods socialist outlets like Left-Horizons and Facts for Working People, plus his own Substack ranting about capitalism as a “death cult” and similar fire. This isn’t neutral commentary; it’s hardcore ideological bile from the radical left. It has zero place here—no matter whose side it’s on.

If you have any respect for your wife’s class, her explicit statement that it doesn’t belong, the dozens who’ve asked you to stop, and basic decency toward people you’ve never even met in person—remove it now. Stop with the “but it was well-written” excuses. This isn’t literature class; it’s a reunion page for folks in their 70s who want memories, not culture-war poison.

Save the political napalm for groups that crave it. This space is for Crestwood laughs, grandkid pics, teacher horror stories, reunion ideas—not imported hate from non-members.

Let’s reclaim what this group is actually for: catching up after 50+ years without the drama. Who’s got fresh photos from the last reunion? Grandkid sports wins? Ideas for next get-together? Drop ’em here.

Thanks (and let’s move on)
LAT

The list is attributed to Dr. Constance Ahrons although she did not write the list of as shown. The titles in caps, the main rule statements, can be almost taken directly from her work 15 Golden Rules for Achieving a Good Divorce. The explanatory text beneath each one was added by me for easier reading and because I don’t 100 per cent agree with her. My notes are based on over 40 years of experience as a divorce lawyer.

1. ACCEPT THAT ALL-OUT WAR IS NOT INEVITABLE.

In fact, sometimes the opposite is true but either way, it is destructive. Mediation and Collaborative Divorce are two choices that aim to reduce anger between divorcing spouses. I don’t care for either, but that’s just a thing on my part.

2. STAY IN CHARGE OF YOUR DIVORCE. Remember, this is your divorce, not your lawyers. I always told my clients I was their employee. As long as they ask me to do nothing unethical, they were in charge.

3. SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS. Although adults often want to move on quickly, remember that children need time to adjust.

4. ACCEPT THAT YOUR CHILD NEEDS–AND HAS A RIGHT–TO BOTH PARENTS. Remember your children’s needs even though you’re angry with your spouse.

5. COOPERATE WITH YOUR EX FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR CHILDREN. It’s one of the best gifts you can give your kids. Ongoing conflict between parents increases children’s distress. And don’t use “ex” when referring to your former spouse. It’s a personal thing I hate; use former spouse.

6. DON’T BADMOUTH YOUR EX IN FRONT OF THE CHILDREN. When you badmouth your ex to the kids, you are telling your kids that the part of them that is like their other parent is bad, too. It is bad for their self-esteem. At some point, some children will turn against the parent doing it.

7. DIVORCE IS NOT THE END OF THE FAMILY. It’s important to your children’s well-being that they feel they still have a family. Help them understand that the divorce means that they are now a dual-household family. You and your spouse divorced each other; you did not divorce your children.

8. RECOGNIZE THAT COMPROMISE IS ALWAYS NECESSARY. This is key to helping to reduce your anger. Also know it’s not always possible. Just make sure you determine it, not your attorney, after discussion.

9. LET YOURSELF FACE AND GRIEVE YOUR LOSSES. One of the big losses is the loss of future dreams. Just beneath your anger is sadness over the losses of those special things you might have hoped for in your future. If there are no children, consider the equivalent of death. Unless you live in a small town, when you leave the courthouse the final time, it’s unlikely you’ll see each other again.

10. LET THE ANGER GO—AND MOVE ON WITH YOUR LIFE. Holding on to hostility and anger is self-destructive. It keeps you stuck in the past and keeps you from finding new joys in life.

[Note] The Good Divorce and the official 15 Golden Rules for Achieving a Good Divorce handout is available as a free PDF on constanceahrons.com, or here: A ROAD MAP FOR PARENTS WHO WANT A GOOD DIVORCE

Two things to consider.

1. The “American comeback” is underway through pro-growth conservative policies focused on kitchen-table issues like jobs, wages, and costs. Republicans should highlight these wins to voters to maintain congressional control and sustain the momentum. What Trump needs to hit: The economy is recovering. Real wages are up, the stock market is at record levels, and inflation has been checked.

The tax cuts and relief are real, with an average savings of almost $4,000 per filer, meaning $100 billion pumped into the economy. Small business expansion is picking up. So is large-scale investment.

We’re seeing the benefits of deregulation. This is a savings estimate per family of $2,100. That’s just by ending Biden’s bonkers policies like appliance mandates and EV quotas.

The above are the pocketbook issues the media can’t hide from people. People drive, shop, buy things, and get tax refunds, meaning these are things that will be seen by people.

If I were giving the speech, I’d go with these. Oh sure, Biden policies gave us rampant inflation, stagnant growth, record-high gas prices, declining real wages, and burdensome regulations/mandates that hurt affordability, and small businesses have to be mentioned.

There are also the family values issues, the things people talk about at home but aren’t making news. Crime is one. Immigration, of course, and cultural issues. There’s a trans culture, for example, louder than its numbers, but Democrats like to be on the lower end of the 80-20 issues. The fact is, the majority of people believe there are boys and there are girls. The majority understand there is a difference. They know real men don’t wear dresses. They believe, as Mr. Rogers did, if you’re a boy, you can’t become a girl or get to do girl things. Crime is down. There could be various factors for it, but Trump can own the crime stats.

But social, moral, and cultural matters tied to traditional family structures, gender roles, sexuality, marriage, child-rearing norms, and values like fidelity, heteronormativity, and opposition to things like “trans culture,” same-sex marriage, or progressive gender policies are important, at least to me.

The fact is, the majority of people believe there are boys and there are girls. The majority understand there is a difference. They know real men don’t wear dresses. They believe, as Mr. Rogers did, that if you’re a boy, you can’t become a girl or get to do girl things. Crime is down. There could be various factors, but Trump can own the crime stats.

2. This may or may not be mentioned. At least 30 Congressional Democrats will be no-shows. Or they’ll show and make a dramatic exit after the program gets underway. Either way, in a time when people want to see people come together, it’s a bad look for Democrats. Citizens don’t expect members of opposing parties to play kissy-face, but they do expect them to discuss differences and try to resolve them.

I’m not sure why it will happen, any more than I can explain Nancy Pelosi’s speech tear-up, except to say it was childish. I’ll call it “The Narcissistic Leftist.”

Some people link narcissism to Leftist behavior, seeing it in their focus on self-image and moral superiority. I’m one. My argument is that Leftists push ‘world-saving’ causes, like climate change or social justice, to look good, not to solve problems, chasing praise over results; you know, virtue signaling, which serves no purpose, by the way.

The behavior aligns with narcissism’s need for validation, manifested by slogans or theatrical acts that prioritize ego over impact. While Leftists may label this as empathy, I see it as a deceptive mask used to feel special and disguise their true intentions.

This behavior can be dangerous in a polarized world where evidence isn’t important and isn’t given when demanded.

Watching tonight’s State of the Union is important because it’s more than just words from Washington—it’s a clear snapshot of where America stands after a year of real Republican policies delivering results. You’ll see Trump lay out the economic comeback: rising wages, booming markets, tax relief hitting families’ pockets, deregulation savings, and small businesses hiring again. These are the kitchen-table truths the media can’t spin away—people feel them when they fill up the tank, check their paychecks, or see new jobs in town.

At the same time, expect the contrast: at least 30 (and counting) Congressional Democrats planning no-shows or dramatic walkouts, proving once again their childish, narcissistic playbook—prioritizing self-image, virtue signaling, and moral superiority over showing up to hear the other side, discuss differences, or even pretend to work for a united country. It’s the same theatrical nonsense we saw with Pelosi tearing up the speech: performative ego over actual governance.

Tune in. This isn’t just politics; it’s proof the American comeback is real, the pocketbook issues are winning, and the divide is stark. Don’t miss seeing it unfold live—because what happens in that chamber tonight will shape how we sell these victories to voters and keep the momentum going.