You Have To Leave If You Want To Come Back

You have to leave if you want to come back.It was a simple phrase Tom Brand's father often used when grandchildren were reluctant to head home after a visit. Over time, Brand came to realize those words held a deeper truth: sometimes distance gives us the perspective to understand what mattered all along.In this collection of stories and reflections, Brand returns to the gravel roads, hay fields, small-town traditions, family gatherings, and unforgettable characters that shaped his life in rural Northwest Missouri. Along the way, readers will meet a stubborn horse named Toby, ride the Current River with a favorite teacher, sell FFA fruit door-to-door, put up hay in the summer heat, travel from a farm near Hopkins to the White House, and discover lessons hidden inside ordinary moments.Filled with humor, faith, nostalgia, and heartfelt reflection, You Have to Leave If You Want to Come Back explores the people, places, and experiences that stay with us long after we leave them behind. Through stories of family, work, friendship, loss, and hope, Brand reminds us that some of life's greatest treasures are often found when we look back.Whether you grew up on a farm, in a small town, or simply cherish the memories that helped shape who you are, these stories will feel like a visit with an old friend—one who invites you to sit down, stay awhile, and remember the moments that still matter.From the author of Welts On Your Butt a Calf Could Suck comes a warm and memorable collection celebrating faith, family, community, and the enduring power of home. Read more