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As I See It

Billy McCord

Sometimes We Fail To Realize How Blessed We Actually Are

I appreciate all the words of sympathy I received on the loss of my two tomatoes. I received a telephone call from my friend Wayne Coleman from Coffeeville who informed me he saved most of his tomatoes and would provide me an early ripe tomato if I would stop by and get it. Can you imagine a better friend? Thanks Wayne! As I write this column on Sunday afternoon a light frost is threatening. I saved most of my two tomatoes but it looks as though I will be taking some protective action tonight. We can take heart in the fact that spring will come one day or at least I have hope.

I also received a message from Ms. Alma Wright by way of her niece, Christine Fielder. Ms. Wright says she looks forward to reading this column each week and enjoys doing so. Thank you Ms. Wright. I always enjoy hearing from readers like you.

As I listened to myself fuss about the weather this week I was reminded of how grateful all of us should be who live in this great country called America. We surely are the most fortunate people I know which are why the lines are always long with those waiting to be admitted to our Country, not to mention the many who slip across our boundary seeking a better way of life.  

Someone sent me some thoughts taken from the internet that meant a great deal to me and I hope it will mean as much to you. The author is unknown.

1. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who won’t survive this week.

2. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 20 million people around the world.

3. If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.

4. If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, and a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75 percent of this world.

5. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top eight percent of the worlds wealthy.

6. If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.

Now I invite you to go back and read these six points again and make an honest assessment of yourself and your family. Even though we may not have much money in our pockets we live in the most affluent nation in the world. Even those who live in poverty in America are rich compared to some of our brothers and sisters who live in third world countries. That fact has always amazed me and it is true.

Can’t you imagine that God expects more of us than He does of those living in the third world?

If you feel blessed from reading this column then I invite you to do something for others. A blessing is not made to be kept. Find a food bank and donate to it. Find a child or a senior citizen who is lonely and make their day by saying something nice to them. God will surely bless you for it.

“Billy McCord is a retired school administrator and an Elder in the United Methodist Church. He is Pastor of the Pittsboro and Shady Grove UM Churches in Calhoun County. He is a member of the Calhoun County School Board. Contact him: billymc@tycom.net

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