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PAGE 8A BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 Submitted photo CHURCH MINISTRY DONATES TEDDY BEARS FOR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS AT WINDER HOSPITAL The Teddy Bear Ministry of Auburn Seventh Day Adventist Church recently do nated soft teddy bears to comfort pediatric patients of Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Barrow. Each cuddly bear is individually packaged with an inspi rational message card and hand-drawn artwork from the church youth. Receiving the gift from Bonnie Allen (second from left) were hospital employees (from left) Heather Standard, chief nursing officer; Sonja McLendon, interim president; and Sunita Singh, public relations manager. Submitted photo CELEBRATE LIFE BANQUET HELD Come Alive Ministries (CAM) Pregnancy Care Center of Winder held its 30th Annual Celebrate Life Banquet on Saturday, Aug. 28, at Bethlehem Church. Kim Davis of Life Resources of Georgia was the keynote speaker for the event. Rev. Lindell Hunsley served as master of ceremonies. Music was shared by Selah Moore. The Master’s Table catered the dinner for the event. “The board, staff and volunteers of CAM Pregnancy Care Center would like to extend our appreciation to all who helped make this a great and successful banquet,” leaders said. ‘National Life Chain’ event planned for Oct. 3 in Winder Winder-based Come Alive Minis tries (CAM) Pregnancy Care Center is participating in the “National Life Chain” from 2-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3. People are encouraged to line up along May Street between McDon ald's and past Miranda's Mexican restaurant for an hour of “non-con- frontational silent prayer in support of life and our nation,” organizers said in a news release. Social distancing will be observed, organizers said. For more information, contact the center at 770-867-3000 or center@ campregnancycare.com. The gift of Mrs. Wanda Parks, Part 2 When my niece, Ni cole, asked me to pay a surprise visit to a nurs ing home patient of hers, Mrs. Wanda Parks, I nev er dreamed of the friend ship that would develop. Mrs. Parks is now 98. She was approaching 90 when I first met her while she was going through physi cal rehab after a fall. She is a faithful reader of mine so Ni cole thought we should meet. Soft-spoken, gracious and kind, she is typical of the World War II genera tion who fought to protect our freedom then built an industrially-healthy America. Her mind is so phenomenal that her son, Thomas, suffers routine defeats in their weekly Scrabble games. The day we met, I learned she lived in a pic turesque, clapboard farm house on a beautiful piece of property that is covered with hundreds of color ful flowers. Weeks after our nursing home visit, Tink and I were driving past her house. There, at 90 years old, was Mrs. Parks pulling weeds. “Tink, turn around and go back,” I said. When we stopped in her driveway, I low ered the win dow she turned, I and, as cheerfully Parks, it's called, “Mrs. Ronda Rich.” Her pretty face light ened. Her eyes widened. “Why, yes you are!” After the shock wore off, she stood up, smoothed her slacks and invited us in. What we found in the turn-of-the- 20th century farmhouse is true to the World War II generation - the house was not running over with stuff (like our house). No, everything was neat, spar kling clean, and sparsely decorated — not for lack of money but because folks like Mrs. Parks keep only their most cherished items. I have never been in the home of a World War II participant when it didn't look like a lit tle dollhouse - all items carefully arranged and the housekeeping perfect with shining furniture and freshly cleaned or vacu umed floors. Standing in the living room as a soft breeze lifted the voile curtains, it felt like my childhood years had returned, bring ing with that breeze the smell of old but trusty hardwood. The kitchen sink and floors sparkled and there was not a speck of dust. To my surprise and the great touching of my heart, I saw — among her few, cherished items - a stack of my books. “Mrs. Parks,” I whis pered, my throat tight ening. “You have my books.” She grinned and straightened her back. “Of course, I do. I love those books.” Later, Tink comment ed. “She had no idea that we were coming so she didn't plant them just for you to see. That's amaz ing. I’m glad you got to see how much you mean to her.” Since then, I drop by whenever possible to see Mrs. Parks. Her mind is astoundingly bright and her stories are important to the history of our coun try. Her wit is quick and nonsensical. Despite a golden heart, she doesn’t suffer fools. Usually when I vis it, I find her doing one Con sideri ng uTM-R) )) buying or selling? 770-867-9026 www.maynardrealty.com of a few things: play ing Scrabble (if she has a partner), studying the Bible, reading the news paper, or working a cross word puzzle. My conversations with her are enjoyable and in formative to the point that I hate to leave. Her spirit is tremen dous. For Christmas two years ago, she cut up old dresses, aprons, and such and made a special pillow for her loved ones. There were 20 in all. For her 90th birthday, she had but one request. “I want to ride your horse,” she told her son, Thomas. Unbeknownst to her, Thomas and his wife ar ranged a rodeo party. When Mrs. Parks arrived, she was happily surprised to see the horse saddled and waiting. She didn't hesitate. She climbed right on and rode until her heart's content. Wanda Parks, with a sharp mind, has many sto ries and pieces of world wisdom to share that I believe she will be shar ing long after her 100th birthday. This is the second of a two-part series about an exceptional Southern woman. Ronda Rich is a best-selling author OAK GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH 4921 Jackson Trail Road Hoschton, GA Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship: 11:00 a.m. Sunday Evening Worship: 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Evening Worship: 7:00 p.m. 706-367-2777 Pastor, Robbie Black Fundamental Independent Baptist “A Heart for the World, A Home for Your Family” GOT TRASH? Call 770-725-ROLL SMALL ENOUGH TO KNOW YOU LARGE ENOUGH TO SERVE YOU! 1100 B. Garrett Dr. Statham, GA 30666 12678 www.rolloffsystems.com 4982 Bristol Industrial Way • Buford, GA 30518 770-831-8955 phone • 770-831-8956 fax E2I ***! mathiscollision@bellsoutli.net SIMPSON TRUCKING & GRADING 770-536-4731 /Sf All Major Credit ' Cards Accepted a*o ie~ • Mulch •Top Soil • Fill Dirt ►Gravel - Spreader Truck Available www.simpsontrucking.com • FORD • CHRYSLER • DODGE • JEEP 770-867-9136 W. May St., Winder If you would like to be a sponsor, please call Susan Treadwell at 678-863-1014 ATTEND THE CHURCH OF YOUR CHDICE We Are All Connected And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, as any had need. R.S.V. Acts 2:44-45 A ristotle claimed that humans are political animals, meaning that we live in a political society or community, remarking further that only a beast or a god would live by himself away from others. One implication of this view is that our minds are part and parcel of the social fabric. Our minds develop socially, by being raised to speak a particular language in a particular culture. And we are literally connected to other people's brains in that the smile on our face will register in their brain and cause their brain to make them smile, and their smiles will have the same effect on us. We have been taught the message of individualism for so long that we don't often see the many ways in which we are connected. Our minds truly are social, think of how often we complete each other's sentences or feel each other's joys and sorrows. But, the philosophy of individualism emphasizes our separateness and makes us think that we can be just as fully human as distinct individuals, as we can when we are part of a larger group like a family or a society. 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