The note from my campus mailbox made my heart pound. It was summons to the office of the Dean of Men. “Please report to Dean Pride’s office at once.” Dean Pride was nothing more than the college disciplinarian and the college I attended took discipline very seriously indeed. The smallest infraction could send you packing home to momma and cost you a semester of academic blood, sweat and tears. Visions of shame and disgrace, failure, ruin and poverty assaulted my mind.

A friend was showing me through a barn on his property one day. It was a warm summer day. Kyle and Chuck were about eight and twelve at the time. The barn was beautiful. It hadn’t been a working farm in years. The lower part of the barn was used to store a sailboat if I recall. The upper part was swept clean and used for social gatherings. It was quite a place.

Sometimes I just crave banana nut bread. I imagine a fresh slice with light butter next to steaming cup of coffee. I give little hints to the ladies about that from time to time.

I have a suggestion for you of something simple that you can do that will almost automatically strengthen the relationships in your family. Your children will be closer to each other. Your marriage will likely improve. When you do this one simple thing communication between family members will improve. With this one simple act many precious hours of time will be saved. With one simple act you will improve the atmosphere of your home. There will be a more reverent spirit there.