It's been a busy, interesting few weeks with graduation, a new grandbaby born, the announcement of the newspaper office closing, learning The TIMES won 27 awards in the state editorial contest.
Some news has been good. Some has not.
Life's like that, isn't it?
It seems that the older we become, the more we realize that all things have both positive and negative facets intertwined within them. The facet on which we focus is the one that will determine our attitude.
Sometimes we're given circumstances we really don't like, but which we can't control. Should we rail and complain? We can, but if we really can't change it, what's the point? We will only make ourselves, and those around us, miserable.
Honestly, I've learned more through pain than through joy. Oh, I prefer the joy, the good, the pleasant. But, I've grown through pain and, therefore, can't say I resent any of the pain I've experienced.
Many years ago, when we were relatively young mothers (at least mothers of young children), Debbie Beisner shared a Scripture with me that I constantly remind need to remember.
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8)
Note the use of the word "all." It doesn't say some or a few, but all -- all grace, all sufficiency, all things. That is not just the good or pleasant things, but all things. Which also leads to the consideration of an oft-quoted Scripture from Romans.
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
Again, "all" things work together for good. It doesn't mean all things are good, but they work together for good.
As I've watched the high school seniors graduate, I remember when I took my first two daughters to college. Since we had homeschooled them, I had not left them at kindergarten, or elementary school, or high school. This was the first time we would be parted for any amount of time. I drove them the more than 200 miles to school, left them, then returned home to the other seven children, crying all the way. Instead of focusing on the seven healthy children at home or the blessing of two healthy, whole, intelligent young ladies getting into college, I was feeling lonely, sad. I don't believe the tears were actually the result of any logical thought, but simply an emotional response.
It took a while to adjust to cooking less and changing our schedule at home.
Change isn't always easy, but it's inevitable. We can adapt or be overcome.
As the years went on, first one daughter married, then, six months later, another married. Life changes continued and we moved. I returned to work and the younger children entered public school. More daughters got married, more graduated and moved out. And, year by year, the dynamics of the family changed. There were births -- and deaths. Sometimes the sorrow outweighed the joy, but over and over again, we returned to realizing that we could grow through the circumstances and choose joy.
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The closing of The TIMES office was a decision that was made with great difficulty by the leaders of the company that owns it. But, it is not the end of the newspaper.
The TIMES will continue to cover the news in and around the Pea Ridge area with the help of the great people here who graciously inform us of the news that is happening. Thank you, each and all, for contributing to the community and the newspaper. Please continue to call or e-mail your information to us. Please continue to send in your photographs and suggestions. We welcome your contribution to this, a great community newspaper. And, we encourage you to subscribe and to advertise in the newspaper.
As someone once said, it's a three-legged stool on which the paper sits -- news (editorial), circulation and advertising. None exist without the other and all are dependant on one another.
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Editor's note: Annette Beard is the managing editor of The Times of Northeast Benton County, chosen the best small weekly newspaper in Arkansas for four of the past five years. A native of Louisiana, she moved to northwest Arkansas in 1980 to work for the Benton County Daily Record. She has nine children, four sons-in-law, six grandsons, a granddaughter and another grandchild due in January. She can be reached at [email protected].
Editorial on 05/21/2014