Trying to flirt can backfire
DEAR ABBY: I’m a 21-year-old nursing student in college. I’m a “people person” and everyone says I’m easy to talk to. According to my friends, I am pretty, smart, funny, etc., but I have never had a boyfriend.
God’s judgment is certain: Satan will never triumph
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: Why does the devil keep fighting against God? Hasn’t he figured out that he’s going to be defeated someday, so why does he bother? Or is the “devil” just a symbol for evil, so that what we call “the devil” isn’t actually real? — T.N.
Stung by offensive response to generous wedding gift
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I attended the wedding of the son of some old friends in another state. Rather than buy the young couple a gift, we instead gave them a check for $1,000. Imagine our astonishment when a month later the following arrived in our mailbox:
Grad party should not be a grab for gifts
DEAR MISS MANNERS: We have a growing stack of invitations to the high school graduation parties of our friends’ children. As we have children of this age, we are well aware of the practice that has taken over in recent years of nearly every family hosting a graduation party for their child during the early weeks of summer.
The Bible should never be used to defend racial prejudice
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: Is it true that God cursed one of Noah’s sons, who became the founder of the black race? My uncle is very prejudiced against people of other races, and he uses this to defend his position. — P.L.
Fiery responses from readers on smoking prevention
DEAR ABBY: I was surprised to see you equate a concerned grandmother’s creative solution to smoking with bribery in your Feb. 14 column. The word “bribe” has a negative connotation. What the grandmother did was offer an incentive, not a bribe, that will benefit her grandchildren in the long run. I think the woman should be congratulated.
Don’t discard old family Bible
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: When my grandfather died, he willed the old family Bible to me (we have a large family, and none of us got much of value). I don’t know what to do with it. It’s too big for me to read (although I know he read it every day), and the language is very old-fashioned. Why keep it? I guess I’m not a very sentimental person. — M.G.
Don’t lie to kids, just explain
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I recently learned that our sister-in-law’s adult son from a prior marriage, “Charlie,” is now “Claire.” My husband and I have three sons, ages 2 to 10 years. This sister-in-law expressed concern that our 10-year-old would remember Charlie and say something inappropriate. She’s demanding that we lie to him and tell him Claire is another daughter we have never met.
The king of all prom questions
DEAR MISS MANNERS: As my son is attending his very first formal, I realize that I am unaware of the rule of dress for this occasion. For example, isn’t my son’s tie supposed to coordinate with his date’s dress? What style of suit is appropriate?
Seek God’s guidance about job offer
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: I’m graduating from college in a few weeks, and I’ve already been offered a very good job, at least as far as pay is concerned. But a former employee of this company told me I’d be pressured into doing things that aren’t honest or ethical. How can I know what to do? — S.D.
Don’t bring a dead romance back to life
DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend and I have been together a year and a half. I regret moving in with him when I did, which was after only three months of dating.
Graduations lack dignity
DEAR MISS MANNERS: The time for school graduation ceremonies is upon us again. Unfortunately, I’ve been witnessing that in recent years, polite applause and inward pride are steadily losing ground to ear-piercing whistles and hooting and hollering like banshees upon hearing a loved one’s name read.
Find practical, sensitive ways to help relative who talks too much
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: I know this isn’t a spiritual question, but how should we deal with someone who talks all the time? We have a family reunion coming up, and our aunt always dominates the conversation (talking mostly about herself). — J.M.
Now is the time to get your GED
DEAR ABBY: I have worked in the field of education for more than 40 years, with the last 25 years serving in adult education, helping students complete their high school equivalency diplomas. Big changes are impending worldwide in this very important educational service.
Reach out to neighbors from another country
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: We’d like to be friendly toward a family that moved into our apartment building a few months ago, but they’re from a foreign country and have a different religion, and we’re not sure what to do, if anything. Any suggestions? — V.B.
Don’t worry about ex’s new baby
DEAR ABBY: I am the mother of a 5-year-old daughter I’ll call Mandy. Her father and I separated when she was 16 months old, and now we are divorced. I am newly engaged to a wonderful man and very happy.
Addictions can be overcome with honesty, prayer and counseling
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: Is it possible to be addicted to things other than drugs or alcohol? Or are some of the things we do just bad habits that we could break if we really wanted to? — M.D.
Give RVs plenty of space on the road
DEAR ABBY: It’s vacation time again, time to hit the road in the RV. Please make your readers aware that people driving motorhomes, towing fifth-wheel trailers and travel trailers CANNOT stop as quickly as a small car or truck.
Showing good will requires deft touch
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have at many times read in the paper about people buying meals, etc., for others as a gesture of kindness. I have found myself in situations where I would like to show similar good will, but have been hesitant to do so for fear of insulting the intended recipient.
You can grow in faith throughout your life
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: My grandmother used to say that the longer we live, the closer we’ll be to God. Is that true? It was with her, because she became more devout as she got older, but I’ve known others who just got grumpy and hard to live with when they got old. — J.Q.
If you don’t love somebody, set them free
DEAR ABBY: I am a divorcee with college-aged children. I love my children, and I thought I loved my ex. However, after my divorce I wonder if I’m capable of loving anyone other than my children again.
Encourage neighbor to turn away from affair
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: My neighbor just confessed to me that she’s carrying on an affair behind her family’s back, and is thinking about leaving them so she can marry her lover (who’s also married). I want to help her, but how can I? She claims she’s at peace with her decisions. — N.N.
Former friends want to encroach on vacation time
DEAR ABBY: I live in Alaska and have good friends I visit every summer on the East Coast. I have some acquaintances and former co-workers who live there, too. Many of them want me to visit when I come down. I have grown apart from these former friends and keep in touch only through occasional emails and Facebook.
This graduation notice doesn’t require a gift
DEAR MISS MANNERS: A family friend that my wife knew growing up, but was never close friends with, sent her a notice of her son’s high school graduation, along with a picture of the son. Never in all these years did my wife receive any other pictures, holiday cards or even an announcement when the son was born, so this is the first we’ve known of him.
Give of yourself to those who are lonely or discouraged
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: My aunt went into a nursing home a few months ago, and whenever I go to see her I come away saddened because so many of the people there are lonely and never have any visitors. Should I encourage our pastor to start visiting there? — L.M.
