Texarkana readers turned to the classic advice column Dear Abby for help with three personal dilemmas that many families face. The first writer, who calls herself a “regretful lender,” recounts lending $4,200 to a friend whose husband was abroad renewing his visa. The friend used the money to recover a repossessed car and later to take her children on a vacation to Florida. Despite the husband’s return and both parents now working, the lender has received no repayment and feels hurt by the silence.

Consider the loan a gift, not a debt

Abby advises that the lender should have treated the money as a gift from the start. “When a friend asks for money, it’s rarely a loan,” she writes, urging the writer to let go of expectations of repayment and to view the act as a good deed done out of compassion for a family in need. While acknowledging the friend’s “inexcusable behavior,” Abby reminds the lender that kindness is its own reward.

Grief has no timetable

The second letter comes from a grieving sibling who lost a brother to a brain aneurysm last year. Family members are pressuring the writer to “be over it” by now, but the writer wonders if that expectation is fair. Abby responds that grief is not a disease that can be cured quickly. She explains that each person’s healing process follows its own schedule and suggests joining a grief‑support group as a possible source of comfort.

Second chances with an ex‑partner

The third query involves a woman who once thought she had found the love of her life, only to be left over a decade ago. The man is now divorcing and has re‑entered the writer’s life while she is already in a “good relationship” with someone else. She asks whether giving him another chance is wise. Abby cautions that reopening old wounds can jeopardize the stability of the current relationship. She recommends limiting contact with the ex, noting that he “was no good for you then, and he can only cause trouble now.”

Key takeaways for readers

• Approach financial help to friends as a charitable act, not a loan, to avoid future resentment.
• Allow grief to unfold at its own pace; there is no mandated deadline for healing.
• Protect existing healthy relationships by setting firm boundaries with former partners.

These timeless pieces of advice reflect the enduring relevance of Dear Abby’s counsel for everyday challenges faced by families across Texas.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.