June 2024 Monthly Letter

Dear Reconcilers,

This month I’m pleased to share Sheila Graham’s article on our unsung heroes. 

My friend, on her way to celebrate Christmas with her family, was pulled over and waited nervously to learn why she was stopped. She had not had a ticket in all her years of driving. Shook up, she knew he would want her driver’s license so when the policeman came to her car window she whipped out her card and handed it to him. 

With a smile he handed the card back, “Ma’am, if you’re trying to bribe me, I only take cash.” In her haste, she had handed him her credit card instead of her driver’s license! As it turned out, she received only a warning for a minor offense, and it didn’t cost her anything but a little embarrassment. She was relieved and thankful he appreciated the humor in the situation.

My new neighbor across the road is a fireman. When he first moved in, I did the neighborly thing, introduced myself and gave him some baked items. After learning he had a long commute and was away for days at a time, I offered to call him if I noticed a problem at his house. He wasn’t interested. He didn’t know me, of course, and seemed to be a little wary I offered. 

Later at Christmas I left a little gift at his front door with a card wishing him well and expressing my thanks for his service as a first responder. A few days afterward a gift bag appeared at my door. My neighbor wrote how much he welcomed my concern for his work and his safety. (The bag also included a box of chocolate truffles, which I did not need!)

What a world we live in that when we see a police officer, we expect the worst and when a firefighter’s first reaction to a neighbor’s kindness is wariness. While I realize not all law enforcement agents are good people and some neighbors aren’t either, it’s a sad commentary on our society.

These special people leave their homes every day to face dangers we can only imagine. They sacrifice their lives daily for us. They’re heroes, but not superheroes like in the movies. When they’re hurt, they bleed and sometimes die. In the news the focus is on the sensational, what’s bad and ugly. Let’s not forget to show our appreciation to those everyday heroes of ours, those first responders whose efforts rarely if ever appear in the news.

Thanks for your support for the Ministry and your encouraging comments about our guest writers. Blessings on you all and stay safe.