Today is Halloween – yes, but it’s also Baylor Homecoming – Sic ‘em Bears!  I choose to overlook any tricks and focus on our many treats.  To me, Halloween is nothing more than a night set aside for children to have fun, dressing up in costumes and getting sweet candy.  And to me, Homecoming is so much more than that – it’s a time to meet up with old friends and family – when everyone comes together for a common cause – to remember & reacquaint.  Sure, some will go too far this Halloween.  And some will come from afar this Homecoming.  Halloween is a time when people come in disguise – many of them strangers.  Homecoming is a time when people come as they now are – many of them dear old friends.  (I don’t know where I’m going with this… I just think it’s kinda cool that Halloween and Homecoming are on the same day this year, and while there are similarities, there are many differences.  I’ve had to kind of figure out on which to focus…  And I’ve decided to focus on Homecoming – it’s sure to provide (much) bigger treats!

I voted already.  And I encourage you to vote when you’re ready.  I voted for the man who I believe is most qualified to keep you and me safe – I’m talking national security.  With me, safety comes first – then health – then education.  And of course, I expect the government to enforce your and my rights.  But that’s just me.  While I’m entitled to my opinion, you’re entitled to your opinion.  And isn’t it nice that while we may differ, we can respect one another’s beliefs and feelings?  One thing’s for sure… whoever wins, he deserves our respect, because he’ll be our president. 

So… what if there was no pain?  What if there was no grief?  Can you imagine!  That’s what Heaven is… a big reunion where everyone’s free of pain and grief.  So perhaps to fully appreciate that, we gotta suffer some of this, right?  But how much!  We read in the Bible that God won’t give us more than we can handle, and yet there are some people out there who seem to have more than their fair share – why is that?  Or does it even matter?  I guess all that really matters is that we take the high road through pain and grief.  Perhaps it’s just another of those many blessings in disguise – ya think?!?! 

But what if there’s new pain amidst old (unresolved) grief?  Now that’s a tall order!  Yeah, we’re justified in not taking the high road, but it’s never wrong to take that high ole road – there’s not!  We may help others simply by being calm and strong – you know… by being a good example, or role model, for others…  I’m reminded of a great fact… sometimes, God calms the storm, and other times, He calms us during the storm.  Can being calm, cool, and collected bring about relief?  I think so – at least, to a degree – at least enough to take the edge off.  So… what calms you?  And what in your life needs to change in order for you to enjoy that calm more & more often?

I was talking to my parents the other day about all the experience we have in serving families, and we realized something pretty amazing – I thought I’d share it with you.  Our family founded our funeral home in 1925 in downtown Waco.  First, a little background; Wilkirson who was my great grandfather founded the funeral home along with his son-in-law, Hatch who was my grandfather – my mom’s father.  Years later, my mom who by then had married Bailey entered into the picture – then me… so see… Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey, though three names, is indeed the same family!)  Okay… moving along… here’s the amazing part… since our humble beginning in 1925, we have served more families in the greater Waco area than all of our ‘competitors’ put together – just think of that – I mean… that’s really very amazing!  Yep, that’s experience for ya.  By the way, that’s tens of thousands of families our family has served through the years, and I might add… that’s one family at a time.  There is most certainly strength in experience like that.  Why am I telling you all this?  Well, for two reasons… one; it is an amazing fact, and two; you deserve to know just whom to call upon in your time of need, when you desire a family who truly has experience in helping families just like yours.  Oh, there is just one more thing – a very important thing, and you deserve to know.  Remember how I mentioned our competition – I called ‘em our ‘competitors’… you need to know that we compete with them on price too – don’t forget that!