New Year's Resolutions, Predictions & Prayers for 2026

Resolutions, predictions, hopes and other thoughts as this New Year arrives.

May God keep, protect and bless American military personnel standing sentry tonight on posts and ships across the globe, wishing they were home to enjoy the fruits of these blessed days.

Be sure to read the late Walter Stewart’s Christmas column he wrote from Burma in the waning days of WWII. I post it annually on Facebook. Stewart lived to return to his job as sports editor of The Commercial-Appeal, the daily newspaper in Memphis. He could write like nobody’s business.

Also read the column I post annually at this time of the year written by my father, the late political columnist Charley Gordon of the Jackson, Ms, Daily News, about how he quit drinking. It was a battle royal. Dad triumphed.

I promise to pray daily for American farmers, who need nerves of steel just to plant another crop.

I predict someone named Lane Kiffin will have a new address in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, by January 1, 2027.

The Mississippi Legislature needs to drop the idea of school choice and focus instead on even more improvement in our public schools. It’s already been dramatic. Be proud.

I think the Democrats will take back the U.S. House of Representatives in the November midterms and truly make Trump a lame duck.

More daily newspapers will drop printed editions in ‘27 and go all digital. I think that’s a terrible thing for this country and the world. I’m told we haven’t seen the end of the proliferation of data center construction. This reminds of back in the day when garment factories were spread across the communities of Rural America, except the investments and employee pay scales are somewhat higher. May we have a data center at every crossroad and enough electricity to feed them.

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson of Bolton will have that job as long as he wants it. I don’t believe that after Jan. 1, 2027, we’ll be hearing the names Hegseth, Bondi, Kennedy, Noem or Patel for very much longer, thank God.

Furthermore, no matter the next President, the “Department of War” will and should revert to “Department of Defense,” almost as quickly as we have “Gulf of Mexico” again.

If in 2026 you celebrate 50 years of marriage, know you’ve done something right.

Say thanks this Christmas for cheaper gasoline. And remember this: When gas prices drop, politicians often claim credit, but it’s usually a mix of global economics, market forces and specific (though limited) government actions (AI). So, don’t believe the claptrap.

If your community lands a new job-producing enterprise, know that an economic developer pulled it off.

Say thanks to myriad groups and clubs like Rotary, Pilot, Lions, Garden Club, Exchange, Retired Teachers, Jaycees, League of Women Voters and Friends of Libraries, to name a few, that exist only to serve their communities. If your hamlet doesn’t have one, start one. Same with farmer’s markets.

I surely hope Jackson doesn’t lose its pro golf tournament. It gives our capital city stature and strength.

In 2026, don’t believe all that politicians say, but thank them for serving. Somebody’s got to do it.

I miss the Big Eight, the old high school athletic conference of Mississippi’s big towns. I realize that’s haughty and I apologize.

Perhaps in the New Year, TV newscasters and sportscasters will start wearing neckties again.

It is time to release the full Epstein files and let the chips fall where they may. It’ll be ugly. We’re going to need more newspapers and churches in the future, not fewer.

May you and yours have a great and prosperous 2026, health wise and economically. ---Mac Gordon is a native of McComb. He is a retired newspaperman. He can be reached at macmarygordon@gmail.com.