Jackie Sikes

”May you be happy. May you be well. May you be safe. May you find comfort. May you have strength. May you have courage. May you find healing. May you have peace. May you have joy. May you be filled with loving-kindness. May you be blessed today and always.”

Be careful with your words. Words once said can only be forgiven, not forgotten. When you are angry or in a bad mood too many times words will “fall” out of your mouth before you can stop them. Once they are spoken they are out there, the damage is done, so now what? If they had no substance behind them then ask for forgiveness. You can't change what was said or how those words were delivered but you can ask for forgiveness if you didn't mean them or if they came out harsher than you had planned.

By JACKIE SIKES The eye is the window to the soul. –Proverbs 30:17 (0) comments Welcome to the discussion.

By the time this column is published, we will have celebrated another Memorial Day. Using the word celebrate on such a solemn occasion almost seems wrong but it's not. Not really. Memorial Day is a day to honor and mourn the U.S. Military personnel who died while serving our country. We recognize this day, honor, and mourn those who gave all for our country, but the celebration comes every day that we live because of these brave men and women who fought for the freedoms that we enjoy and sometimes took for granted. We wish people a Happy Memorial Day not because we are happy that these brave men and women died but because we dishonor them by not being happy about the freedoms that they gave their lives for.

The phrase “wolf in sheep's clothing” comes from the New Testament's sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew 7:15. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Unfortunately this week a good friend and I experienced a very hurtful reality. Someone we thought we knew turned out to be someone we never really knew. Sad and I know it has likely happened to you or someone you know.

Well I think this is the first time I've ever submitted my column via texting it on my phone. You've got to love technology, especially when you need it like I do this week.

I attended the 90th anniversary of the Arkansas Municipal League convention in Little Rock this week. I had a great few days and as always enjoyed the people I met, the connections I made and the knowledge I learned. When attending a governmental event like this you discuss and learn a lot about how to build a better community, how to build better roads, water and sewer facilities, build better and more successful public meetings and forums. Build better plans for safety, education and build healthier communities through medical facilities and preventative health businesses like gyms and, rehab facilities. There is always an abundance of resources for building, and improving your communities outdoor recreation opportunities.

By JACKIE SIKES A better me “I am in competition with no one. I have no desire to play the game of being better than anyone.

After a long, controversial “battle” to save the campground from being shut down, the superhero team – The Outsiders – celebrated the grand opening of the Fairfield Bay Campground photo opportunity park (POP).

‘Years ago, a group of good, wise, brave, God-fearing men stood up to claim and defend the human right for independence. Those men are now dead. Their work is not. But if good, wise, brave, God-fearing men fail to stand up in their stead, that independence will cease to exist.” – Richelle E. Goodrich.