Rich: What a year

A new year has begun, and I'm very happy. Good riddance to 2025.The Good Book instructs, “Pride goeth before destruction.” My pride almost killed me this year.All my life, I have enjoyed good health. Yet, I never appreciated it as it is meant to be appreciated. In fact, I bragged about it.

Rich: The story of Him

Years ago, a Harper-Collins editor called my agent.“Could we interest Ronda in writing about the strong faith of Southern women?” he asked. “My mother was Southern. I’ve never met a family more entrenched in the gospel than Mom’s.

Rich: Special occasions

I never knew my friend’s Aunt Elsie. Still, the valuable lesson she taught me will never be forgotten.Miss Elsie died a while back in her tiny Alabama town, having lived to be 81. Her grandest adventure happened over 30 years ago when she went to see a cousin in Memphis.

Rich: The South’s American queen

A reader from Minnesota recently wrote and, in her email, she mentioned that she lives near where the Mississippi River begins.There is no greater, more besotted fan of the Mississippi than I. Of course, I had questions.Where does it start?How deep and wide is it?

Rich: Dill and me

It was in the Springtime, some 20-odd years ago, that I was headed to the Georgia coast for a speaking engagement.My phone rang. This was in the glorious days before texting had rudely invaded our lives.The most beautiful, lilting voice replied to my “Hello?

Rich: Sharing Thanksgiving

At first blush, this might seem like a Christmas tale, but soon, you will see the joy of Thanksgiving in it.When I left home to work in a land far away, Mama said, “I’ll give you the same advice my Daddy gave me when I left the mountains: Forget not to assemble thyself in the house of the Lord.

Rich: Small room, big dreams

(Sitting in for Ronda is her primetime Emmy award-winning husband, John Tinker.)Whenever I’m at Ronda’s Mama’s house, I spend a little time in Ronda’s childhood bedroom, where she lived until after attending college, as a day student, while earning tuition money by working varied jobs.

Rich: How amazing it was

Even at the young age of 18, I watched it all in real time. And, though I was short on years and wisdom, I knew it was nothing short of amazing. There is a preface to this story. It isn’t fluff.It’s important to tell.

Rich: God bless our military

Our friend, Levi Bowman, is a scion of the multi-awarded Isaacs, who are famous for their blood harmony in their bluegrass gospel group. His mother is Becky Isaacs Bowman.The Isaacs are the ONLY gospel group to be members of the respected Grand Ole Opry.

Rich: The summer leaves

It’s the first two weeks of summer when the world is awhirl with different shades of green, blackberry winter has passed, and the days are warmed to perfection, which are particularly enchanting.