Greetings to all! The weather is still amazing, but so is God!. It’s time we really realize who He is. His love and mercy is everlasting. As I write, I listen to Tamela Mann’s “Take Me to the King.” If you haven’t heard that song, you have missed something.

Our hearts are still sad with the loss of our friend Edward McKoy. Then another one of our participants lost his life in a fire on Wednesday night. Please keep these families in your prayers. Rest in peace. We love you and will always remember your kind ways. We were reminded of “Shade Tree Days” this week as word spread of sickness and death. Friends began taking food and encouraging words to the families — now this is the way it was in the old days — friends taking care of friends. Love starts at home and spreads abroad.

My article this week is dedicated to Dr. Lattice McKoy. She is a mentor to me. She sends so much encouragement to me — when I’m down, she lifts me up. She really makes me feel good about myself and the work I do. She is a very smart lady. One of several things that I like about her is that she stands on the truth — no one is ever better than she is. She believes you can be — no matter the struggle — anything you want to be in life. She has written wonderful poetry and other rewarding articles in life. I love you “Doc”.

Special recognition is given to all the volunteers. Some in particular are Linda Hill, Mary J. Brown, Fred Herring, Josie McKoy, The Thomas Girls and the Union High School workers. I can’t name everyone, but these are folk that make my work and life so much easier are dear to me. Keep up the good work.

Please join us in observing Healthy Heart Month. Wear red throughout the month then come celebrate with us on February 13. Rhonda Rich will be out motivational speaker at 10 a.m. at the center.

Don’t forget to join us for a safe food presentation with Kim Reid on Feb. 21 at 10. Chris Ingram will be here on Feb. 28 with energy saving tips. Who knows we might just get some freebies!

Always remember life’s great feeling is when we help someone no matter how small the act may be. Small things are not just things — they are important. My 96-year-old mother’s motto is “If I can help someone as I go along, then my living will not be in vain. The greatest of all gifts is love!!!

Ready for some words to live by? “If we do indeed seek to bring peace to the world, we can do it by first bringing peace to ourselves. A person cannot give what they do not have.” — Thomas D. Willhite

Unless we have first “cleansed our hearts and minds,” we can’t cleanse the world of all the evil doing around us. We often ask what can be done. What can I do? Unless we find happiness and peace and accept what our conscience tries to teach us, then we can’t help or change what is around us. If each person took time to do their own inventories then the world would fall into order. Sometimes we say if I only could do this or have this or that then I would be happy. Happiness is only truly within us. Things can’t make us happy. Start within and then the outside will take care of itself leading us in the path we need to be taking. How can we expect to “fix” the world if we can’t “fix” our inner selves?

I hope everyone has a blessed week. Until next time…..