Early this week, I heard that my friend, Major Speights, passed away. Major was the pastor of the First Baptist Church in LaPlace for 17 years.

His wife, LaRue Speights, was a teacher in St. John Parish public schools for 30 years.

They both were very influential in our community. They moved to Birmingham, Ala., many years ago.

When I think about Mrs. Speights, I remember the time when my children, Ronny, Matt, and Kay, attended East St. John High School. My youngest child, Ann, was at St. Peter School.

I always had trouble with my third child, Kay. The problem was that she was just like me and I didn’t like that.

Looking for some advice on how to handle Kay, I went to see Mrs. Speights. I shared that I didn’t have problems with Ronny or Matt, but I thought Kay was a troubled child.

After talking to Mrs. Speights, she told me that Kay was my most stable child.

When I returned home, I told Jeanne that we have a big problem. Kay is supposedly stable.     

I then realized that my children were different, but I treated them all the same.

Ronny was Miss Goody-Goody. Matt listened to me and never rebelled. Ann was like her mom. She always did the right thing.

Kay, on the other hand, was just like me — rebellious and wanting to do things her way.

It took me a few years to accept the fact that Kay was stable — just different.

But if not for the Grace of God, a loving wife, unselfish children and people like Major and LaRue, whom God put in my life, this story could have had a sad ending.

If you have any questions or comments, please write Harold Keller at Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call 985-652-8477 or email hkeller@comcast.net.