Author: Pastor Russell Higa

  • Eight Words That Saved My Marriage

    by Pastor Russ Higa Judy and I were married way back in 1979. She was just 26 and I was 25. While we were dating, I had her on a pedestal. She was my princess and I would buy her gifts and treat her as the most special woman in my life. Soon after we…

  • The Best is Yet to Be

    On a frosty winter’s morning, my fellow seminarian, Cal Chinen, picked me up in his old beige Volvo. We drove across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon, to Washougal, a small town at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State. We were responding to a senior citizen’s request to do some yardwork.

  • Honor Our Elders

    As the years roll by, it is not always easy to keep perspective on the people who mean the most to us. Sometimes we forget to show the appreciation they are due. But it is important to remember to express our love and honor our senior citizens while they are still here. For example, one…

  • Nothing Beats a Good Friend

    Research shows that the happiest people have deep friendships The private school graduate is no happier than the high school dropout! Can you believe that? Private school graduates tend to make more money, but income doesn’t raise happiness levels. Third, your IQ has no affect on your level of happiness. The genius is no happier…

  • Enjoying Peace of Mind in Your Senior Years!

    My dad, James Kensei Higa, never had a headache in his life. When someone in our family had a headache he would ask, What does it feel like? Imagine living 84 years and never having a headache! My dad always slept soundly and seldom worried about anything. Dad went to heaven in 2005. My mom,…

  • How Much Are You Worth?

    In a society that glamorizes youth and beauty, it is easy for us to feel less valued as we age. As my hairline recedes, my wrinkles deepen, and my strength diminishes, am I still valuable? Are you still valuable? How much are you worth? Let me answer that question using a real life example. Do…

  • The Blessings of Having a Church Family!

    My mother Sue (Sumiko) Higa died in July of 2010. She was 84 years old and for nearly half of her life she suffered with rheumatoid arthritis. Mom came to live with us in our Ma¯noa home for the last two years of her life. What was Mom’s greatest joy during the latter years of…