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I love crossword puzzles. I work on one every day. I inherited my passion from my mother, who did a crossword every day to keep her mind sharp, until her vision deteriorated to where she couldn’t read them anymore. Puzzles are often classified according to difficulty, as in Easy, Medium or Hard. The problem is, every publisher seems to have a different standard for these categories.

I worked through a book of Christmas crosswords from Random House that was labeled as “Hard”, but I solved them easily, and started to feel quite highly of myself. Then I started working on puzzles in a book from the New York Times described as “Medium”. Whoa! They were incredibly difficult! They had me stumped. Suddenly I didn’t feel like such a genius.

Clearly, various companies set their own standards, just as our evolving culture does. It can be confusing and frustrating. We would be well advised to stick to God’s standards for life. That way you will always fill in the blanks with the right answers.

There used to be a TV show called “Super Nanny”. It was about a professional nanny whom you could hire to teach your out-of-control children how to behave, and to respect their parents. She also taught the parents how to properly handle their kids. Within a few weeks, she would take bratty, unruly children and transform them into model offspring.

I often doubted the realism of these shows, and wondered if the families were just performing for compensation. There’s not one perfect way to raise a child. You just love them as much as you can, do the best you can, and pray they turn out well.

Raising them in a Christian home can help. 75 percent of children raised in Christian homes remain active in their faith throughout adulthood. They have a better chance of growing up to be moral, secure and confident grown-ups.

You don’t need Super Nanny’s help to set a positive Christian example.

My seven year-old grandson had never been bowling before. It was all he could do to muster the strength to lift the ball and roll it down the lane. Most of the time the weak attempt would ooze forward very slowly and drift to the side, knocking down maybe one, two or three pins. I thought our little guy would be disappointed, but it turned out to be just the opposite.

He was absolutely gleeful to have knocked down any pins. He jumped and shouted, and proudly pointed upward to the electronic scoreboard, shouting “I got two!” as the number popped up on the screen. He would go on to bowl two full games, and his reaction was the same each time. Apparently, he was convinced going in he wouldn’t get any pins, and was ecstatic for the few he managed to topple.

I want to go through life like that. Expecting little and being full of joy for what God does provide. It’s the key to a happy life. It took a seven year-old to model it for me.

It hurts your feelings to be left out. Left out of conversations, gatherings, invitations and fellowships. You can be left out inadvertently or deliberately. Both are painful. If you are left out inadvertently, it means no one noticed you were not included. If deliberately, it means they did notice and didn’t want to include you.

We can pretend it doesn’t bother us. But deep down inside, it can make us sad and even angry. Knowing this, we should make sure we are inclusive. Be aware of those around you who don’t seem to be engaged in the activity at hand. Try not to leave folks out when it comes to invitations and gatherings. If it’s someone you find unpleasant or unlikeable, break the ice and make the first move toward friendliness.

They may reject you, but that’s okay. There are some who want to be left alone. But most people want to feel at least thought about. You can make their day.

I was sitting in my living room the other day when I heard a strange sound. It was my doorbell! A delivery man rang it to let me know there was a package on my porch. I hadn’t heard my doorbell in a long time. That’s because the world has changed. It’s no longer a place where folks feel comfortable answering the front door. Instead they install ring cameras and other security devices. The front door is no longer a friendly place for visitors.

I am old enough to remember when it was different. Front entrances were decorated with welcome mats and things designed to invite people. Salesmen, girl scouts, doctors, mail persons and others felt free to knock. Now they don’t bother, because few will answer.

I certainly understand the caution that must be exercised in this day and age. But I sure wish the world could return to being a place where you could confidently open your front door.

We took two of our young grandkids bowling the other day. They had all they could do to just pick the ball up and roll it down the lane. They couldn’t pay much attention to direction. Most of their attempts would have headed straight into the gutter, but we requested to have the bumpers raised. The bumpers guided their balls safely down the lane so they knocked down at least a few pins each turn.

We all need bumpers to guide us safely through life. Something that will keep us from falling into the gutter physically, psychologically and spiritually. Prayer and God’s word can do that. Every day may not feel like you just knocked down all the pins, but you’ll never lack the hope and peace of a new turn, a new chance, a fresh start.

So get out there and live this day with a bold confidence that your efforts won’t go astray. Roll through your adversity like a bowling ball headed directly into the pocket.

When you go to the doctor’s office and they check your blood pressure, ever wonder why the cuff squeezes your arm so tightly? The device can only measure the force of your heart by stopping the blood flow to your arm completely. It must make your circulation start from scratch. It can’t be accurate just dipping into the existing flow through your artery.

Your reading is just a snapshot. Blood pressure is constantly changing. Doctors are looking for a general pattern. They want your results to stay within a safe range. It’s not a bad idea to purchase one of those cuffs and test your blood pressure regularly at home. They are available at most drug stores and can be ordered off the internet. They usually cost around $30 to $60.

You may be surprised at some of the readings you get. It will also help you determine what factors in your life have an adverse affect on your heart. It’s worth the tight squeeze.

I do some of my best thinking when I’m lying in bed at night. I get ideas for my columns and blogs, and then I start writing them in my mind. Unfortunately, this is the worst possible time to do any comprehensive thinking. I find it impossible to relax my brain and get ready for sleep when this happens. It causes me to lie awake for hours.

Eventually I have to get up, visit the bathroom, get a drink of water, maybe even walk around a bit, and just reset my mind to realize how tired I am. Sometimes it seems to take forever, but eventually I get drowsy again and fall asleep.

We all have issues in our lives that we want to think about and analyze. If at all possible, try to find time during your waking hours to hash through your thoughts. I find if I write down ideas that come to me, it gives me a sense of being able to put them aside at night, knowing I won’t forget them.

I wrote this blog in the afternoon today. I’ll sleep well tonight. Maybe.

When you walk into a grocery store, they make you pass by the snacks and sweets before you get to the meat and milk in the very back. They want you to be tempted to buy something impulsively because it is pleasing to the taste, although probably bad for your health. To avoid falling into the trap, you have to be focused on your mission. Ignore the potato chips, the pies and ice cream products. Set your eyes on the lean beef and the cottage cheese against the back wall.

Just as in life. We must focus on what we know is right and moral and walk past the many enticements of things that will only do us harm and separate us from God. You can do it. You can turn down the chocolate chip cookies and buy the broccoli. And you can turn away from self-destructive allures and live a righteous life.

Something unexpected will happen to you today. It might be a big thing or a little thing, but it will take you by surprise. Might be something somebody says to you. Maybe a phone call or an email or a text message you weren’t anticipating. Maybe a cancellation of some sort. Or an opportunity. A health issue popping up. Could be anything.

Whatever it is, it will change your life in some small way. Be ready for it. Don’t allow yourself to be shocked by sudden change. Take a deep breath, roll with the punches, adjust and plan how to go forward. Stressing out is natural, but it’s also non-productive. Have faith that you are loved and cared for by a mighty God.

That’s something you can always expect.