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♦ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2006
6A
‘Shop for a Cause’ will help Pregnancy Resource Center
Special to the Journal
The first annual Shop for
a Cause winter event will
he held Tuesday from 5:30
p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at First
United Methodist Church
on North Davis Drive. A
love-offering and/or new
baby items will be accepted
as event admission at the
door. All donations at the
door will directly benefit the
Early stimulation promotes learning ability
Question: What causes a
child to be a “slow learner”
one who just doesn’t learn
like other children in the
classroom?
Dr. Dobson: There are
many hereditary, environ
mental and physical factors
that contribute to one’s
intellect, and it is difficult to
isolate the particular influ
ences.
For many children who
have difficulty in school, we
will never know precisely
why their ability to learn is
limited.
Let me tell you what is
now known about intellec
tual development that may
explain some - but not all
cases of learning deficits.
Accumulating evidence
seems to indicate that some
children who are slow learn
ers and even those who have
borderline retardation may
not have received proper
intellectual stimulation in
their very early years.
There appears to be a crit
ical period during the first
three to four years when
the potential for intellectu
al growth must be seized.
There are enzyme systems
in the brain that must be
activated during this brief
window.
If the opportunity is
missed, the child may never
reach his capacity.
Children who grow up
in deprived circumstances
are more likely to be slow
learners. They may not have
heard adult language regu
larly.
They may not have been
provided with interesting
books and puzzles to stimu
late their sensory appara
tus. They may not have been
taken to the zoo, the air
port or other exciting places.
They may not have received
daily training and guidance
from adults.
This lack of stimulation
may inhibit the brain from
developing properly.
The effect of early stimu
lation on living brains has
been studied in several fasci
Church Briefs
New youth
minister called
Friendship Baptist Church
of Warner Robins announc
es the call of Christopher
Michael Rice as full-time
minister of youth and activi
ties. Rice will begin his min
istry Dec. 11. He is a grad
uate of Lexington Baptist
College and Southern Baptist
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Pregnancy Resource Center
of Warner Robins as well as
5 percent of all retail sales.
The event is the brain
child of Allison Soine, Emily
Wiegert, and Gail Simon-
Boyd who got together to
find a way to raise funds for
the center.
“Ultimately, we wanted
to do something good for
the community, and help
ing babies in the Houston
nating animal experiments.
In one study, researchers
divided
littermate
rats into
two identi
cal groups.
The first
was given
maximum
stimula
tion dur
ing the
first few
months of
life. These
Dr. James
Dobson
Focus on the Family
rats were kept in well-lighted
cages, surrounded by inter
esting paddle wheels and
other toys. They were han
dled regularly and allowed
to explore outside their
cages. They were subjected
to learning experiences and
then rewarded for remem
bering.
The second group lived
the opposite kind of exis
tence. These rats crouched
in dimly lit, drab, uninter
esting cages. They were not
handled or stimulated in any
way, and were not permit
ted outside their cages. Both
groups were fed identically.
At 105 days of age, the
rats were sacrificed to per
mit examination of their
neurological apparatus. The
researchers were surprised
to find that the high-stimu
lation rats had brains that
differed in several important
ways: (1) the cortex (the
thinking part of the brain)
was thicker and wider; (2) the
blood supply was much more
abundant; (3) the enzymes
necessary for learning were
more sophisticated.
The researchers con
cluded that the stimula
tion experienced during the
first group’s early lives had
resulted in more advanced
and complex brains.
It is always risky to apply
conclusions from animal
research directly to humans,
but the same kinds of chang
es probably occur in the
brains of highly stimulated
children.
If parents want their chil-
Theological Seminary. A
Maryland native, he has
served churches in Kentucky,
Ohio and New York over the
last 10 years. He and his
wife Marcy have two chil
dren, Timothy James and
Corinna. Paul Cowles is the
senior pastor of the church,
which is located at 1322
Feagin Mill Road, Warner
Robins.
LONGHORN
BUTCHER SHOP
youk Homom Birtcm Sim 1976
1207 Sunset A\e. • Perry Plaza
Pern. (.A 31009
l.ee Lavselrr 478-987*5711
Greer Lasseter
County-Wamer Robins area
seemed like the right thing
to do,” Wiegert said.
Without any reservation,
these three ladies started
Shop for a Cause.
“We knew the center
needed more than baby sup
plies to maintain its opera
tion, and we knew we could
help,” Soine added. The
ladies industriously pulled
together eight independent
dren to be capable, they
should begin by talking to
them at length while they
are still babies. Interesting
mobiles and winking-blink
ing toys should be arranged
around the crib. From then
on through the toddler years,
learning activities should be
programmed regularly.
Of course, parents must
understand the difference
between stimulation and
pressure.
Providing books for a 3-
year-old is stimulating.
Ridiculing and threatening
him because he can’t read
them is pressuring. Imposing
unreachable expectations
can have a damaging effect
on children.
If early stimulation is as
important as it now appears,
then the lack thereof may be
a leading cause of learning
impairment among school
children.
It is imperative that par
ents take the time and invest
their resources in their chil
dren.
The necessity for provid
ing rich, edifying experienc
es for young children has
never been as obvious as it
is today.
Question:What do
you think of the phrase,
“Children should be seen
and not heard”?
Dr. Dobson:That state
ment reveals a profound
ignorance of children and
their needs.
I can’t imagine how any
loving adult could raise a
vulnerable little boy or girl
by that philosophy. Children
are like clocks; they must be
allowed to run!
Dr. Dobson is founder and
chairman of the board of
the nonprofit organization
Focus on the Family, PO.
Box 444, Colorado Springs,
CO. 80903; or www.family.
org. Questions and answers
are excerpted from “The
Complete Marriage and
Family Home Reference
Guide” and “Bringing Up
Boys,” both published by
Tyndale House.
YMCA plans
yard sale
The Houston County
YMCA will have a yard sale
Dec. 9, starting at 7 a.m.
The location will be 1902
Suite B Elberta Road in
Warner Robins.
There will be gymnastics
equipment and other office
items for sell.
Serving Houston County
Ferry • Warner Robins
Member FDIC
CBST
Bank of Middle Georgia
fjk 1 THE BANK
W OF PERRY
Please worship at the
church of your choice
40094
1006 Main St. • Perry
987-2552
Member FDIC
RELIGION
consultants representing dif
ferent companies: Arbonne,
Cookie Lee Jewelry, Creative
Memories, Discovery Toys,
Pampered Chef, Partylite,
Southern Living At Home,
and Tastefully Simple. All
consultants plan to have
the orders back before
Christmas.
“We decided on a ‘One-
Stop Shopping Experience’
for the event so that the com
Telling a Thanksgiving story
On Thanksgiving
morning in 1945, I
was riding my bicy
cle through Perry’s streets.
Traveling down Highway
341 towards Hawkinsville,
I passed a middle-aged man
hitchhiking. He was shab
bily dressed and appeared
to be a drifter passing
through town. I felt sorry
for him and stopped to talk.
He stated he was down on
his luck and had hitchhiked
from Tennessee.
He was heading to his sis
ter’s home in Florida where
he hoped to find work. Since
mother was preparing a
scrumptious Thanksgiving
dinner, I asked him if he
wanted something to eat,
to which he replied affir
matively. I raced home and
asked mother to prepare
turkey, dressing, vegetables,
dessert and tea. Mother
obliged and I carried the
food back.
The man took the food
and sat down on the curb
ing to eat.
He removed his hat and
muttered a blessing. He
obviously hadn’t eaten
well in days as he literally
devoured the food.
He finished eating and
handed me the picnic bas
ket, then said something
Personal satisfaction holds priority
The year was 1981. A
young friend asked if
I had plans to attend
a local football game.
“No,” I replied, “I just
don’t have time for ball
games.”
“If you really wanted to
go, you’d find time,” was
his prompt comeback. The
truth cannot be denied.
Other interests hold prior
ity over sports.
I tried getting interested
in televised games. That
fizzled out when I kept
rooting for George only to
discover that George was
not on either team.
According to Natasha
Gibbons at the YMCA, gen
tly used donations will be
welcome and volunteers are
needed to post signs and help
set up the sale on Dec. 8.
All donations can be
dropped off at the main
YMCA located at 2954
Moody Road.
If you have a large load
of items, call Gibbons
Heco- ‘Pervuf
(jCeeutete
736 Main Street
Perry, Georgia 31069
Jackie & Terry Mullis
987-1965 uon-uHWT
100040090
Perry
DrugCqmpany
Friendly, Professional Sendee
Ben Bartlett & Hubert Bennett,
RMiISTEREO PHARMACISTS
4 lit Awwmw Acctpttd
1036 MACON RD. • PERRY, GA
100040089
988-1144
munity could do the msgor
ity of their Holiday shopping
in one place,” added Simon-
Boyd.
“Each consultant agreed
to donate at least five per
cent of their sales to the
Center. Their generosity
and support has been over
whelming.”
;The first annual Shop for
a Cause Winter event will
be held Tuesday from 5:30
that I shall never forget.
He remarked, “Young man,
I once was married and had
a family. We looked forward
to spending Thanksgiving
together.
I had a successful job and
was doing well, but some-
thing
happened
in my life.
My wife
started
running
around
with
anoth
er man
behind
my back
and took
the kids away from me. I
started to hit the bottle
and before long, I lost my
job. I’ve been in jail sev
eral times, and my life has
gone to pot. Although my
wife left me, I should have
pulled my life together and
begun counting my bless
ings instead of my trou
bles.
“I am going to my sis
ter’s to stay for a while and
hope I can get back on my
feet.” As he walked away
to resume hitchhiking, he
turned and said with a
pointed finger, “Don’t let
this happen to you, son.
Later when George was
playing on a televised game,
guess
who was
not at
home to
see the
action.
Why
was I
not at
home?
You
prob
ably
could have guessed. I was
involved in a gospel sing.
My young friend’s com
ment is accurate. We are
922-2566 or e-mail
programs@hocoymca.org.
Chamber singers
to perform
Eight chamber singers
will present Gabriel Faure’s
Requiem at 7 p.m., Dec. 8 at
St. Christopher’s Episcopal
Church in Perry.
The concert will be under
[lßl2 II.S. 41 N.l
Perry, GA
987-1112
(39&£e%:s
FlooringAMßHCA
00041001
Perry
Antique Mall
63ij Courtney Hodges Blvd.
\ Perry, GA 31069
tSqxt- to Petty AnitiKtl Hospital
478-987-8775
-LNGC perryantiques@alltel.net ALA
G ,,,v
lotMMotm
HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at First
United Methodist Church
on North Davis Drive.
A love-offering and/or new
baby items will be accepted
as event admission at the
door.
All donations at the door
will go to directly benefit the
Pregnancy Resource Center
of Warner Robins as well as
5 percent of all retail sales.
Stay positive about life and
don’t let bad torns in the
road get you down.” As I
rode away on my bike, he
waved goodbye and I recip
rocated.
Indeed, we should count
our blessings and not our
problems our gains and not
our losses, our joys instead
of our woes, our friends
instead of our foes, our
smiles and not our tears, our
courage and not our fears
our full years and not our
lean years our kind deeds
and not our misdeeds, our
health and not our wealth.
And finally, count on God
instead of ourselves.
The 100th Psalm is fitting
for the Thanksgiving sea
son: “Make a joyful noise
unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with glad
ness: come before his pres
ence with singing. Know
ye that the Lord he is God:
it is he that hath made
us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people and the
sheep of his pasture.
“Enter into his gates
with thanksgiving and into
his courts with praise: be
thankful unto him and bless
his name. For the Lord is
good; his mercy is everlast
ing; and his truth endureth
to all generations.”
Billy Powell
Columnist
inclined to devote our time
and energies to things
which bring personal sat
isfaction.
God designed each of us
with individual likes and
dislikes. He is due the
honor of these characteris
tics used to reflect examples
of Christianity.
“Who can put into words
the mighty deeds of the
Lord?” (Modern) “Who can
praise Him half enough?
Happiness comes to those
who are fair to others and
are always just and good.”
- Psalms 104 2 -3, Living
Bible.
Earline Cole
Reflections
the direction of organist
and choirmaster Joseph.
O’Berry.
A reception will follow in
Buchanan Hall. The concert
is free and open to the pub
lic.
O’Berry will also perform
at 6 p.m. Dec. 17 with the
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
at Peachtree Presbyterian
Church.
478-988-2448
740 Main Street
Perry GA 31069
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www.sewingbees.com
Sperry florist
734 Main Street
Perry, Georgia 31069
987-1656
800-516-1004
00040100
0004 11HM