8 minute read
What Matters Most
from July 2022
Gò0dNews for Everyone
What Matters Most
Advertisement
by Chuck Cleveland
Let me begin with a brief story told by my friend Steve Brown, the teacher on the Key Life radio program. I have his permission to share it, and it goes like this:
Did you hear about the little girl who was late getting home one evening? Her mother asked her why and she said, “I stopped to help Susie.” Her mother replied, “What happened?”
“Well, Susie hurt her doll—the head was broken off.”
“Oh, you helped Susie fix the doll.” The little girl answered, “Oh no, we couldn’t fix the doll. I stopped to help Susie cry.”
Intrigued by Steve’s story, I began to ask people, “When someone (preferably not your spouse or a parent) was a special friend to you, what exactly did that person do on your behalf? By the way, how would you answer that question?
I’ve spoken to 25 to 30 people over the last few years, and the overwhelming majority answered in a similar manner. They cited instances when someone came alongside them when they were confronted with a sick child, the loss of a job, a dying parent, a broken relationship, or some other calamity.
When asked if that friend provided advice on how to resolve the crisis, most said no. That was shocking to me. After all, I reasoned, what are friends for, but to help resolve problems? And they’re saying what meant the most to them was just being there.
The good news, of course, is that all of us can be there for others. We don’t need to have an advanced degree to listen to those struggling; we don’t even need to be particularly smart to help the hurting. As we can infer from Steve Brown’s story about the little girl who befriended Susie, when we cry with others, they feel genuinely loved and we are greatly enriched.
Perhaps the best biblical account of such sharing is that of Job’s much-maligned friends. As captured in the last three verses of chapter two, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar traveled to Job’s home, where they wept over his distress. Remarkably, they stayed an entire week without speaking to Job, for they saw how much he was suffering.
Unfortunately, they eventually opened their mouths, and chapters four through thirty-seven ensued. Despite all that conversation, there was little or no communication—at least on a personal level. Instead, the foursome (and later Elihu) took turns making lengthy theological and philosophical speeches that have little or no effect on each other.
Contrasted to our frequent insensitivity to others, let’s look at the compassion exhibited by the Lord Jesus when he encountered a leper in Matthew 8, Mark 1, and Luke 3:
A man with leprosy came to Christ with the expectation that the Lord would heal him if he were willing to do so. Jesus reached out, touched the man, and declared, “I am willing.” Immediately, leprosy left him.
In our day, there may not be many lepers, but there is no shortage of loners, and they want someone to be there for them. Given the Lord’s example, should we not go and do likewise?
About The Author Chuck Cleveland lives in Newnan, GA and has written for three area magazines, as well as the local newspaper. He has been a Christian for over 50 years.
LET US HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS IN THE NEW YEAR coffee, juice, smoothies, grab and go food, daily specials
% %
Models may vary from products shown. ®/™ © 2018 Whirlpool. All rights reserved. FSL24959. 2A Appliance “Your Hometown Appliance Store”
Compare Our CD Rates 6-month 1-year 2.40 2.55 APY* APY* Minimum deposit Minimum deposit $1,000.00 $1,000.00
Bank-issued, FDIC-insured 2-year 2.75 APY* Minimum deposit $1,000.00 * Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective 01/11/2019. CDs offered by Edward Jones are % bank-issued and FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (principal and interest accrued but not yet paid) per depositor, per insured depository institution, for each account ownership category. Please visit % www.fdic.gov or contact your financial advisor for additional information. Subject to availability and price change. CD values are subject to interest rate risk such that when interest rates rise, the % prices of CDs can decrease. If CDs are sold prior to maturity, the investor can lose principal value. FDIC insurance does not cover losses in market value. Early withdrawal may not be permitted. Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not allow interest to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones are issued by banks and thrifts nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC).
Jonathan G VanderHart
Be Above Minimum deposit Minimum deposit APY* APY* Compare Our CD Rates 6-month 2.40 $1,000.00 1-year 2.55 $1,000.00The Influence Bank-issued, FDIC-insured 2-year 2.75 APY* Minimum deposit $1,000.00 * Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective 01/11/2019. CDs offered by Edward Jones are bank-issued and FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (principal and interest accrued but not yet paid) per depositor, per insured depository institution, for each account ownership category. Please visit www.fdic.gov or contact your financial advisor for additional information. Subject to availabilityOf Underage Drinking and price change. CD values are subject to interest rate risk such that when interest rates rise, the prices of CDs can decrease. If CDs are sold prior to maturity, the investor can lose principal value. FDIC insurance does not cover losses in market value. Early withdrawal may not be permitted. Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not allow interest to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones are issued by banks and thrifts nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC). & Marijuana Use Financial Advisor www.edwardjones.com whole food plant-based meals health goals without sacrificing 78 Battlefield Station Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 that can help you reach your the flavors and foods you love. Member SIPC FDI-1867H-A 1549 Battlefield Parkway Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia 706-858-9676
423.467.5630 • www.realroots.cafe
Jonathan G VanderHart
Financial Advisor www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC 78 Battlefield Station Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-858-9676
PREWASH CLOTHES 1120 Battlefield Pkwy. RIGHT IN THE WASHER Ft. Oglethorpe, GA 30742 Get easy access to an instant stream of water with a built-in water faucet. NEW FINGERPRINT-RESISTANT (706) 861-6473 SUNSET BRONZE
Compare Our CD Rates
Bank-issued, FDIC-insured
6-month 2.40 1-year 2.55 2-year 2.75
APY*
APY*
APY*
Model WTW7500GC. ®/™ © 2018 Whirlpool. All rights reserved. FSL24961.
2aAppliance
* Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective 01/11/2019. CDs offered by Edward Jones are bank-issued and FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (principal and interest accrued but not yet paid) per depositor, per insured depository institution, for each account ownership category. Please visit 2aAppliwww.fdic.gov or contact your financial advisor for additional information. Subject to availability and price change. CD values are subject to interest rate risk such that when interest rates rise, the ance Models may vary from products shown. ®/™ © 2018 Whirlpool. All rights reserved. FSL24959. prices of CDs can decrease. If CDs are sold prior to maturity, the investor can lose principal value. FDIC insurance does not cover losses in market value. Early withdrawal may not be permitted. Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not allow interest to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones are issued by banks and thrifts nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC). 2A Appliance Jonathan G VanderHart “Your Hometown Appliance Store”
Minimum deposit Minimum deposit Minimum deposit APY* APY* APY* Compare Our CD Rates Bank-issued, FDIC-insured * Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective 01/11/2019. CDs offered by Edward Jones are 6-month 2.40 $1,000.00 1-year 2.55 $1,000.00 2-year 2.75 $1,000.00Saint Gerard Magella Catholic Church bank-issued and FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (principal and interest accrued but not yet paid) per depositor, per insured depository institution, for each account ownership category. Please visit www.fdic.gov or contact your financial advisor for additional information. Subject to availability 3049 Lafayette Rd, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 and price change. CD values are subject to interest rate risk such that when interest rates rise, the prices of CDs can decrease. If CDs are sold prior to maturity, the investor can lose principal value. FDIC insurance does not cover losses in market value. Early withdrawal may not be permitted. WE ARE 1.4 BILLION STRONG. OUR LOCAL PARISH IS 200 FAMILIES.
Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not allow interest to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones are issued by banks and thrifts HISTORICALLY LOCATED A FEW YARDS FROM THE CHICKAMAUGA nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC). BATTLEFIELD AND WE ARE LOCATED IN ORIGINAL FORT OGLETHORPE. Financial Advisor www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC 78 Battlefield Station Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-858-9676
www.edwardjones.com Jonathan G VanderHart Financial Advisor Mass Schedule Confessions Member SIPC TUESDAY 9AM 78 Battlefield Station Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 706-858-9676WEDNESDAY 9AM THURSDAY 9AM (FIRST FRIDAY 9AM) ADORATION 9AM - 1:30PM SATURDAY 5:30PM SUNDAY 9AM SUNDAY 11AM SATURDAY PM: 4:30 - 5:15
TUES & THURS AM: 8:30 - 8:50 WEDNESDAY PM: 5:30 - 5:50 Your Hometown Optical ALSO BY APPOINTMENT 1670 BATTLEFIELD PKWY,
FORT OGLETHORPE, GA (706) 866-2111
