Something about growing older seems to make the time pass more swiftly, especially if one is not idle.
Maybe that's because to a teenager of 16, a year is a 16th of his or her life, but a much smaller fraction (1/50, 1/60) of a middle-aged person's life.
It also makes one aware of all the events for which to be thankful. As we experience many decades, we also experience what is included in that -- birth, illness, accidents, death of loved ones and many sorts of loss.
All of my life, I've wondered why some people are bitter and some grow better with age. I've seen people blessed materially who are bitter and cantankerous. I've seen people who are poor materially, but rich in happiness and relationships of love. Why?
Listening to a speech about thankfulness, I was struck by a report of a preacher from a previous century who used the occasion of being robbed to share how one can be thankful in all situations.
The victim of the crime said he was thankful. How can that be?
He was thankful that the robber took his wallet and not his life.
He was thankful that although he took his wallet, it didn't have much money in it.
And, lastly, he was thankful that he was the victim and not the perpetrator!
What a great attitude!!!
I must confess, I too often have delved into the self-pity mode when confronted with less-than perfect circumstances. But, am realizing how much more pleasurable it is to find the good.
A wise man said there a few true victims in this world. Many of us make our own predicaments. Sadly, that's all too true. How many crimes are reported that could have been prevented? We leave our keys in our car and it's stolen. We leave our purse unattended in the grocery cart at the store and the wallet is taken.
Here in Pea Ridge, we're all too accustomed to leaving the doors unlocked on our homes and our vehicles. Sadly, life here is not as it was 50 years ago. It would be wise to take precautions.
As much as we hate injustice, far better to be the victim of injustice and have a clear conscience than to soil our character with evil. Eventually, the right will win, although it doesn't always seem so today.
So, for today, let's be thankful.
There are many from our community who are sitting in hospital rooms and waiting rooms, some are struggling with great loss, others with pain beyond our comprehension. If you are able to read this, give thanks that you have your eyesight and are at home with a roof over your head and probably with heat to comfort you during the cold autumn days and nights.
I'm thankful for far more than I can say -- for teachers who are dedicated to their profession and teach our children, sometimes at great sacrifice to themselves; for caring preachers who minister at all hours of the day; for law enforcement personnel who keep watch during the night; for emergency medical personnel and medical personnel at hospitals who labor throughout the day and night and holidays; and for a free country where we can vote, attend (or not) church, congregate, complain and live without fear.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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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 five of the past six 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 and two granddaughters and another grandson due this summer. She can be reached at [email protected].
Editorial on 11/23/2016