Rick Brinkley: Our Own Ann Landers

If you need a good laugh, cry, or looking for some helpful advice, do yourself a favor and go “like” Senator Rick Brinkley on Facebook. This guy is like the male version of Ann Landers. Seriously, it’s time this former daytime TV producer, turned preacher, turned State Senator, got a regular newspaper column or radio gig. Better yet, turn his posts into a coffee  table book. Enjoy a few of his posts below:

When I first got on Facebook, I wondered how many “friends” I would have. After a while I wondered how many friends would “like” me. After a while I was more concerned about the “comments” my friends would make about what I said. Eventually, I became more interested in how many people “shared” who I am through what I post.

Apparently, Facebook is a lot like life. The older you get the less you care about how many friends you have, how many like you, what they have to say about you & are more concerned about what you have to share with others.

But, also like life, until you are comfortable with who you are, know what you believe, like yourself, make self comments that build you up & are willing to share yourself, the thoughts & comments of others carry too much value.

Love & care about others, but do not allow others to define your own value.

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10:00 AM – Precinct Meeting

11:30 AM – Soccer Tournament

4:00 PM -Head to Sallisaw to speak at their Chamber Banquet.

However, my only question is who said “Hmmm….. I bet there will be a 34 degree windchill on February 9. Let’s do an outdoor soccer tournament!”

Just so you know, I am one of the manly men standing out in the elements supporting my grandson, not sitting in my car watching like others.

Later, I will be a manly man with pneumonia.

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Rick

PeePaw

Dad

Ricky

Son

Brother

Pastor Rick

The BBB Guy

Brink

The Rickster

Brinkster

Rickydemus

Mr. Brinkley

Rev. Brinkley

Sen. Brinkley

These are all names I either answer to or have answered to over the course of the first 51 years of my life. Some I like (Peepaw, especially), some I don’t (Mr. Brinkley makes me feel like my dad and who in their right mind wants to be called “The Brinkster”?), and some I’ve learned to live with (Classmates and old friends still call me “Ricky”). Others, I like more now than I did when I was first called them (i.e. Rickydemus, just because it’s what my dad called me when I was little).

Always remember two things:

1) It matters more what you call yourself than it does what others call you.

2) It doesn’t matter what others call you, it matters what you answer to.

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As you are aware, my grandson’s birthday was last week. His birthday dinner turned into an evening of remember when Pie did this or Pie said that. My son reminded us of the day Pie was about 4-years-old & I took him to buy a pair of shoes.

I was looking at the shoes & handing them to him to try on. At one point, I had my back to him & asked “Do those fit?” He said, “I don’t know. I can’t get the damn things on.” It’s that awkward moment when you are laughing & your jaw drops open at the same time.

Two Things to be Learned Here:

1. We all know that children emulate the words they hear & we pretty much know where they’ve heard these words. But, when they emulate behavior, it’s sometimes harder to understand that the behavior they are exhibiting is many times also a learned behavior. If you can’t Figure out where they learned it, it’s probably from you.

2. If I had turned around, bent over, & helped him put on the shoes, the whole situation would have been avoided.

If we don’t like their words or their behavior, perhaps a little help may resolve the issues we face.

By the way, this post isn’t just about children.

I’ve always been amazed that people will bend over backwards to get along with people at work, “Because I have to work with them.” But, we want the people we love, the children we’ve parented, & the people we’ve committed to spend the rest of our lives with to hurt just as much as we hurt.

When we lose sight of our priorities, The damn things in our lives don’t fit….so saith my grandson.

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At age 51, we’re taking a “party bus” to the event has an entirely different meaning. Trying to find a comfortable position to sleep. It’s 11:00.

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Hello, God, it’s me, Rick, again. I know we’ve all been praying for rain & it’s a down pour here in OKC. However, my umbrellas are in the far back end of my Explorer, which means it would be faster for me to run through the rain to get in the Capitol, which means I’m going to be soaking wet. If you could plan better, I and others would really appreciate it. Love, your friend, Rick.

Dear Rick, You know that since the beginning of time I’ve heard some ridiculous prayers, but you surpass them all. You are actually complaining that it’s raining, you have a 2008 Ford Explorer, and you somehow thought on a day that it was suppose to rain that you would leave three umbrellas in the back of your vehicle? I would recommend you resubmit your prayer and that you give thanks for the rain and ask for a brain on where to put an umbrella when it’s suppose to rain. Love, God

God, well, if you’re going to put it that way, Okay, Rick.

Never expect God to correct your self-created problems, especially when you have an ungrateful heart.

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Favorite conversation today with Pie during lunch.

Me: I wish we had another month before session starts. There’s a lot of things around the house that I didn’t get done and I’d like to spend more time with you before it all hits.
Pie: Yeah, well I don’t want to go back to school tomorrow. How’s that working out for you?
Me: Noted.