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PAGE 6A BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2016 I’m thankful A thankful heart For years, the late Furman Bisher wrote a column at Thanksgiving, which became one of the most popular columns to appear in the pages of the Atlanta Jour nal and Constitution. Furman was a very talented writer who could write sensitively and poi gnantly. We enjoyed a pleasant friend ship for many years, highlighted by annual trips to the British Open championship. Furman and I often played golf in the mornings before heading to the Press Centre to fulfill our respec tive roles as Open correspon dents. We also traveled about Europe and shared many stories about the games we covered and enjoyed. For several years since Furman’s death. I have thought about writing a Thanksgiv ing column in his style. I wanted to wait until the right time to try to follow in his footsteps. I believe that it is okay now to attempt to do that. First of all, I’m thankful for Furman and his remarkable memory. I’m thankful for the columns he wrote. I’m thankful for his writing skills, his appreciation for the language and his ability to compose mem orable and penetrating essays that made you want more when you finished reading his words, especially his Thanksgiving column. Here’s to Furman. I’m thankful for grandchildren—Alex, Zoe, Sophie and Penny—and their health and happiness. I’m thankful for their giggles and bent for building forts and lapsing into sentimental affection for one another. Most of all, I’m thankful they enjoy reading....thankful, too, for par ents and teachers who encour age reading. I’m thankful for librarians-thankful that they are not becoming extinct in this technological world. I’m thankful for the view from my back porch, ivy and honey suckle on the fence and the ever present cardinal which reminds me of those in St. Louis, which reminds me of Stan Musial and his accommodating way. I’m thankful for the honeysuckle’s fragrance, which leaves me uplifted when I read the paper and enjoy a cup of coffee out back. I’m thankful that I can sit there in the fall when the colors of autumn make me pine for the lyrics of “Harvest Moon.” I’m thankful for Jimmy Harris of Uni coi Outfitters and fishing for a rainbow on the Chattahoochee. I’m thankful that God—when he made rivers—remem bered to populate them with fish. I’m thankful for Sydney Lanier, our one-time poet laureate, and his poem, “Song of the Chattahoochee.” I’m thankful for small towns and com munities and their humble and modest way of life. Good Hope, Tarrytown, Inman, Coolidge. Lizella, Sautee and Oli ver. I’m thankful for country ham at the Mayflower Restaurant on Broad Street. See Smith on Page 10A loran smith Random Rants in Rhyme Thanksgiving 2016 We should be thankful every day, and should bow our heads and gratefully pray to God who reigns in Heaven above and express to Him our prayers and our love. He knows that you have worked so hard to earn your daily bread, but at each and every turn, you are using gifts God gave to you, some of which will last your whole life through. The Scripture says that He knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb, and what’s more, that you are fearfully and wonderfully made! So don’t think of yourself as being under grade. He made a DNA that only fits you. He knows your name and, believe me, it is true that He even knows the number of hairs on your head, and even its color (mine used to be red). He gave you your mind to choose the right or wrong. He gave those muscles to you - you made them strong. In his great love. He gave to you a will to accept or reject Him - and He loves you still. On this Thanksgiving, I am grateful that I chose as a very young lad on Him to rely. The blessings are many and never seem to cease. The best one of them all is His promised peace. He has blessed me with a family, great neighbors and friends; with freedom in America, and I can depend on Him for those times when trouble rears its head. He will hold my hand and lead me until I’m dead. Even then. He has promised a home for me where I can dwell with Him through eternity. That may sound a little far-fetched to you, but He has made that promise, and His promises are true. As thankful as I am, I could be more thankful yet if I knew you’d opened up your heart and let my Jesus be your Lord and Savior, too. I could look forward then to eternity with you. © 2016, cbs Become a Powerful Voice in a Child’s Life. Become a CASA Volunteer Training Classes Begin January 26, 2017. Applications Being Accepted Now. Day and Evening Classes Available. Invest Six Weeks and Be THE Difference for a Foster Child. Learn more at WWW.PIEDMONTCASA.ORG Call 678-777-5630 x CASA Court Appointed Special Advocate* FOR CHILDREN PIEDMONT CASA SCRViNC BANKS, BARROW. * JACKSON COVNT1ES Lift up 3 child’s voice. A child's life. Before the Halloween candy had disappeared, the shopping malls were putting out Christmas decorations, and small towns were hanging their holiday lights, preparing to usher in the season. Christmas ads on TV seem to come earlier each year, and bell-ringers start standing out side the stores in mid-No vember. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas up in here. And we still haven’t had Thanksgiv ing! At church on Sunday, the pastor asked us to reflect back to this time last year, and think about all that has changed since then. My family has endured some difficult times since last Thanksgiving. My dad was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, after a catastrophic patholog ical fracture in his spine rendered him unable to move his legs. After surgery to decompress the spi nal cord and several weeks in rehab, he was able to return home, where he continues to recover. During this time I lost a job that I loved, and was unemployed for four months. Losing a job at my age, with a 40-year career in healthcare, I felt my choices at starting over were limited. It was a very depressing time, facing both my dad’s illness and the despera tion of finding work. Only in retrospect was I able to see that losing my job could be a positive thing. I stayed busy, attending doctors’ appointments with Mom and Dad, vis iting Dad in rehab, and helping out at their house. Also during this time I was able to stay at the hospital with my aunt, when my uncle was very seriously ill. My cousin was packing up her house for a move to Arizona, and I was able to spend lots of time with her before she left, and packed lots of boxes while she worked. An extra bonus was spending time with the grandkids during the summer. God’s timing is always per fect. I was hired at a great office, and I’m very happy there. My first day at the new job was also the first day the kids started back to school. For my family, it’s Thanks giving every day. We rejoice at the progress my dad has made. He is able to walk short distances using only a cane, and for longer distances using a Rollator. He has been driving for a month or so, and even cut grass a time or two. His cancer markers have trended downward, and there have been no side effects from the chemotherapy. We are so thankful. My job is awe some, and is better in so many ways than the one I lost, and for that we are thankful. There’s a saying that goes like this: “It’s not happy people who are thank ful, it’s thankful people who are happy.” I’m sure that there are many happy people who are thankful, but I know that being thankful goes a long way to ensure happiness. A very special man I know told me today that he doesn’t celebrate holi days. He lived most of his adult life in prison, and he is just thankful to be alive, and to be free. He lives each moment as though it is his last, and is thankful to God to be free from prison, thankful for his clemency, and thankful for having his very basic needs met. As a former convicted murderer, armed robber, ex-convict, cancer survivor with a heart problem, his life would seem abysmal to some. But because of his past, he is thankful for every day that he is allowed to live, and to serve God and other people. That, my friends, is a truly thankful person. And he is a happy person. My wish for you is a thankful heart, not only for this week, but for each and every day. Cathy Watldns Bennett is a Barrow County native anda graduate ofWinder-Barrow High School. Send comments about this column to bencath@aol.com. cathy watkins bennett Dr. Fields Dr. Fields is an Orthopedic Surgeon, who received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. He completed his residency at West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia. Dr. Fields did a fellowship in Sports Medicine and Arthroscopic Surgery at the Orthopedic Research of Virginia. 706-583-9000 Athens • Commerce Elberton Jefferson • Royston Winder www.athensboneandjoint.com isj ATHENS Bone Joint