Last week, many residents gathered at the Chucky Mullins Center for a community Thanksgiving Dinner. Caring is sharing; that was an effort of numerous people working together for the annual event.
The Reedtown Community is known for its great cooks. The food was scrumptiously delicious with a traditional meal of turkey and dressing with cranberry sauce, green beans, potato salad, macaroni and cheese and much more. A variety of desserts included apple cake, pound cake, sweet potato pie, pecan pie, just to name a few.
Families were coming together to give thanks for each other and the lovely people who live in this wonderful community. There were young and old alike enjoying the meal. There were those who lived out of town and returned for the weekend who were meeting and greeting the people who they loved and had helped to raise them. Almost everyone knew that the blessings they were receiving came from God and wanted to live that day to the fullest.
We have so much to be thankful for, and my list is way too long. However, I am most thankful for family and friends. To live around people who genuinely care about you is a great blessing. Approximately a year-and-a-half ago I gave thanks for the residents of Franklin County who rallied around me during my time of need. There were people who cared about me, and I felt the love that was shown to me. Many in our communities still have greater needs to be met.
Some elderly are living alone and seemingly have no one to check on them; others are sick and have to make choices of buying medicine or food; children are expressing a need for love and guidance; young adult parents can use a helping hand in rearing their children. Regardless of how you view the community, we all are in this together.
McDonald’s serves their beverages in a cup with a horizontal line around it. The line represents that the cup can be half-full or half-empty, depending on who is holding it or how you are looking at it. Life is to be enjoyed with grateful hearts, hearts of love and peace. Sometimes we can and will do a little during this holiday season, but what little we do can be a large bit in the eyes of someone receiving the love and care.
My heart was overjoyed to see several in the community receive Thanksgiving baskets from New Jerusalem Church. It was a moderate gift basket that could be used to help prepare a meal, but the love and enthusiasm led by Pastor Thomas Bates was radiated and felt by each family who opened their door. I believe in staying positive while holding my beverage cup. Therefore I will see my cup as half-full and make the best out of my situations while being thankful.
Dr. Will Boyd, candidate for Congress, gave me something to ponder over during one of his Thanksgiving speeches. His motto is, “Serving common people using common sense.” He said we are to give God thanks for every opportunity that we have to share with one another. He encouraged us to remember the poor in our midst and remember to share Jesus in the work that he calls us to do.
Sometimes we may not have what we want, but we have to be thankful for the things we do have.
