Truth Worth Hanging Onto

by   November 3, 2020 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

Truth Worth Hanging Onto

My mom-in-law used a handful of catchy phrases that she deemed appropriate for certain situations. For example: If someone thought they were “all that” and dropped the ball at church or a family function, she would remind us that “One monkey don’t stop the show.” If something hurtful happened she was quick to remind us that “What doesn’t kill us will make us stronger.” When plans changed unexpectedly we knew we could count on her to say, “When God closes a door, He opens a window.”

I think my favorite, and her wisest saying was that “Things won’t always be this way.” In 2020 after the year most folks have had, I believe we can all shout a loud “Halleluiah” to that!

I hear talk about our new normal.

Nope.

I refuse to let this become my new normal. I look forward to handing out all the hugs I want; to smiling without hiding it behind a mask; to watching television without all the fearful warnings and even better, without the political ads filled with lies and character assaults.

I think we’re better than this.

I think this year has been a wakeup call to remind us of how good it is to work hard, send our children to school to professionals who know stuff; to shop for groceries without looking at each other suspiciously; and best of all to worship without fear. Let’s return to THAT normal!

After all, what hasn’t killed us has surely made us stronger!

PS:

While the proverbs of my beautiful southern mom-in-law are very wise, she would agree that Scripture is wiser still. May the Lord strengthen us to rest in His promises.

“The Lord is good, a Stronghold in the day of trouble. And He knows the ones who trust in Him!” – Nahum 1:7

Amen!

My Best Friend

by   October 31, 2020 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

            I am very blessed to have a number of very good friends. I invest time to build friendships. When my phone rang a few weeks ago and I heard the voice of my best friend’s wife, I knew what she was calling to tell me. I could hear the news in her voice. My best friend had passed away.

            Twenty-four years ago, I changed jobs in the middle of a school year. Elkin High School offered me an opportunity I couldn’t refuse. My first day felt very overwhelming. When lunch time rolled around, I saw Jay Collins in the hallway and asked where he ate lunch. He said he ate in his room, and I asked if I could join him. He invited me in. Thus began one of the best friendships in my lifetime.

            We ate lunch every day in his room. We talked about everything. There was no subject off limits. We talked about problems we were dealing with in every area of our lives. We talked about our backgrounds. We helped each other through some rough patches. We always laughed.

            If you saw the two of us walking down the hall together, you’d better look out: we were probably up to something. We kidnapped a colleague’s chair and left ransom notes. We turned another colleague’s desk 180 degrees and made sure everything was perfectly in place so the next day she wouldn’t notice and would bang her knees when she sat down. We didn’t do anything cruel, just fun stuff that kept everyone laughing.

            Jay and his wife live on a beautiful piece of land outside of Sparta. I don’t know of any place on earth where the peace of God is more tangible than sitting on their porch or walking along the stream that cuts through their property. A couple of years into our friendship he invited me up one summer day. You drive to the edge of nowhere, go another couple of miles and you are there. The trip up became an annual event that I looked forward to like Christmas day.

            My friendship with Jay grew to include his wife and their son. I ate many meals at their home filled with laughter. We also talked about deep personal issues and problems we faced. We shared the joys and sorrows of life. No topics seemed off limits. All topics were handled with love and concern for the best outcome for each other.

            One thing I will miss is the complete acceptance I felt. We never judged each other. We knew each other’s secrets and they were safe. We walked and talked with each other through difficult times, both past and present. We always listened to each other and offered love-filled advice. Our different political opinions never touched the friendship. We were always there for each other, no matter what the circumstance.

            When I sit and think about it, what I miss the most is just talking to my best friend. We got together when we could, but sometimes a year passed between visits. The conversation would pick right up as if we had eaten lunch together the day before. The conversation always flowed easily. It was filled with laughter. There was never a dull moment when we were together.

            After Jay retired, he took up woodturning and became quite good at it. I have a number of his pieces. The most special piece is the one he decided we would make together. He taught me some simple techniques and we worked on the piece until supper. A few days later it arrived in the mail, complete with our names and the date stamped into the bottom.

            It’s been a while since I last saw Jay. Parkinson’s stole him from us all too early in life. It is hard to find and make a good friend in life, but it is especially hard to give up your best friend. I can still hear his laugh. I can see the twinkle in his eye when we were up to something. I can feel the love that his family and I share. I remember his last words as I headed out the door to go home from Sparta, “Be careful going down the mountain. Be safe.”

            I want to encourage you to treasure your good friends. We are quickly approaching the holiday season. COVID has done so much to keep us apart; find a way to connect, not only with your family, but with your friends, too. Share a laugh, swap a few stories, and treasure each moment. Personally, I can’t wait to get to heaven and see Jay’s workshop, to hear him laugh, and to catch up on what’s been going on.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

My COVID Journey 5

by   October 27, 2020 with No Comments

By Ann Farabee

Day 11.  Charles tested for COVID.

Day 12.  Results were positive.

Another 10-day isolation began.

Our 14-day quarantine was extended to 21 days.

Return to school would have to wait.

Return to church would have to wait.

Return to grocery stores would have to wait.

Return to normal was nowhere in sight.

This felt like one of the saddest times of our lives just knowing the seriousness of the virus and how the unknown seemed to overtake our thinking.

The phone calls from the COVID line had restarted. Isolation and quarantine were hard — and difficult to fulfill as a family, but we were determined to do it. We were thinking of you and your loved ones — we would never want to be the cause of someone else having to go through what we had been going through with COVID.

Day 13

9 p.m.

My 16-year-old stepped into my room and said, “Good night.” He hesitated for a second in the dimly lit bedroom, and then softly said, “I always thought you and Papaw would be here with us until we grew up.”

This moment overtook all the other moments of this journey as being the most heartbreaking.

He walked out of the room immediately. I tried to call out to him, “Don’t worry! We will be!” but no words came out of my mouth. There were only tears falling down my cheeks.

Being isolated from our grandsons in our home was hard. We do not think of them as grandsons — we think of them as sons, for they had been with us since they were very young. Sure, it had crossed our minds at times that we may not live to see them grow up, but only for a fleeting second. Never had it truly seemed to be a possibility, but knowing the thought had seeped its way into my 16-year-old son’s mind crushed me.

Three weeks of quarantine and isolation in our home was not only hard on us — but it was hard on them.

Days 14-15. Improvement was beginning to come for me. My taste came back! Mental fog had taken its place, but I thought it was an excellent trade-off. I began to realize there was still a world out there — and not just this evil virus that had robbed us of our normal lives.

Day 16.  I got up. I walked downstairs to get my own coffee for the first time in over two weeks. I noticed the violets in my windowsill that a friend had brought to me right before I was diagnosed with COVID.

I took a closer look. I felt the dirt in the pot. It was as dry as a desert.

I was sure it had not been watered in at least 16 days.

Upon closer inspection, I realized there was minimal browning of the leaves, and the purple flowers were still beautiful.

Not only had the violets survived — but they had thrived!

They had grown and flourished — in spite of me.

As I began to shower them with water — and love — I received reassurance.

I thought of my two teenage boys still sleeping upstairs and how my greatest fear since they were toddlers had been, “What would my family do if something happened to me?”

I had received the answer to that question. Out of our adversity had come stronger young men. They had survived and thrived — in spite of me.

On my first trip downstairs since COVID, the word of God had spoken — through the violets in my windowsill.

Luke 12:28 says, “And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t He more surely care for you?”

I knew the answer:

Yes.

One Mile Challenge

by   October 26, 2020 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Races are beginning to happen again and an unusual one took place on Wednesday. SideKick Karate sponsored a mile run and walk for breast cancer awareness, all completed in their parking lot at 520 South Main Street. A total of 36 runners and walkers from the SideKick Learning Center and After-school Program participated in the One Mile Challenge. Ricky and Edie Smith are owners of SideKick Karate of Salisbury.

The theme of the race was “run or walk a mile for the cure…one foot at a time.” Since 5,280 feet make a mile, the goal for each participant was to raise $52.80 by asking 10 sponsors to give $5.28, a penny a foot. “Every foot and every penny makes a difference.” said Ricky. The total raised was $2,246.06 and will go to the Susan G. Komen Charlotte Foundation. The top three fundraisers received an engraved samurai sword. They were Dalton Hardy who raised $443.52, Anderson and Azalee Everhart with $253.80, and Jackson Kelly who brought in $210.24. The top 10 received a pink belt which represented their commitment and fight for “The Cure.” All will wear their pink belts for the month of October for Breast Cancer Awareness.

All the participants in the SideKick Karate One Mile Challenge, held on Wednesday. Singer Taylor Mason holds the guitar.

“We wanted our students at SideKick Learning Center to continue the Daily Mile curriculum that the Rowan County Schools incorporated for exercise, especially since students are sitting at their computers more than usual for virtual learning and schoolwork. Every day before lunch, our students are required to walk, jog, or run a mile around the parking lot. We wanted the One Mile Challenge to give the students a goal. A favorite Charlotte race of mine for many years was Race for the Cure, so we decided to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Charlotte Foundation,” Edie explained. Ricky added, “This was a perfect opportunity to teach the kids to help fight for others who are struggling with breast cancer. What does running have to do with karate? It’s the best self-defense technique you can learn.”

There were two heats of runners, both completing 10 laps around the asphalt parking lot. The overall winners of the 5-8 year old’s first heat were Urijah Magana, timed at 9 minutes and 48 seconds in the male division, while Azalee Everhart clocked 11:42 in the female division. Winners of the second heat, 9 years old and up, were Drew Hodges with a time of 6:40 for the males and Sophia Maycong at 9:58 for the females. They all received a four foot trophy.

“I am very proud of my son,” said Jacob Hardy, Dalton’s father. “This was an excellent opportunity to raise money for a good cause.” Overall male winner Hodges said, “This is my first race and I plan to continue running and entering other races.” Female winner Maycong stated, “This is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life but worth every second of it. It was fun.” Miquel Velazquez, a second-place finisher said, “Cancer has affected one of my family members and that motivated me to get in shape and run.” His father, Mario, said, “Many families are dealing with cancer and it was good for kids to be made aware of this and raise money for the cause.” Rev. Lincoln Roth of Maranatha Church in Salisbury explained, “It encouraged me to see the kids encouraging each other.”

Country music association singer and Catawba College graduate Taylor Mason performed the national anthem and also interacted with the students. She sang some of her own songs, along with taking requests from the students. “Taylor was perfect for the event,” Edie said, “The kids loved her great personality, and we think she’s on the way to musical success.” Taylor’s mom, Tricia, was awarded a pink belt by Ricky Smith for her own personal battle and victory with breast cancer.

The Salisbury Rowan Runners provided a complete finish line set-up and each runner/walker received an individual finish time and place. Look for more events at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

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