with Gloria Holiday
Hello to everyone! Greetings from the City.
The very first thing I would like to say is THANK YOU, Lord, for allowing us to see another week. The second thing I would like to say this week is THANK YOU! Thank you for taking the time to buy and read the Chester County Independent. Third, I am so sorry for not being with you for the last two weeks. I do appreciate all of the phone calls and everyone that tells me how much they enjoy reading this little column. Each and every one of you bring joy into my life whenever I speak with you. So this week I knew I had to get it done.
The City would like to say Congratulations to our Chester County High School Class of 2020. You are conquerors! To be a conqueror is tremendous. Conquer means “to triumph, to overcome, to win, to succeed or to be victorious.” The class of 2020 has shown that the victory is theirs. You have made history, and the future is in your hands. Just remember when all is lost that the future still stands and is waiting for you.
I do not know where to start with what I am going to say. My heart is so heavy because five years ago on May 18, 2015 we were sending condolences to Roselyn Roberts’ family for her grandmother, Ms. Kathy Lipford, and now on May 18, 2020, we are sending out condolences to the family for Ms. Kathy’s granddaughter. To the family of Kaylee Daniel, Cayla Lenon, Roselyn Roberts and Tyler Stablein, the city of Henderson wants you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time and that we love you.
All of these young people I knew because of their families. I once read this poem by Liliana Kohann called, “Today I Allowed Myself to Cry” – “Today I allowed myself to cry. I don’t have to be embarrassed of my tears. I don’t need to justify my reasons why and how it feels. I let them fall as they come, as the cloud allows the rain, and I feel their heaviness flowing out as they carry out my pain. How good it feels to cry, and to know that it is my right, after all, it’s the only way for my sorrow to be truly out; for my pain to be resolved, for my mind to become clear. If Nature never let the rain fall how would the clouds disappear?”
Well, May 25 is Memorial Day. It is a holiday many of us spend having family gatherings and backyard barbeques or enjoying a nice evening out with friends and family. However, we chose to celebrate Memorial Day in a different way this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Whatever you do for Memorial Day, remember to ask yourself this question: “Why do we celebrate Memorial Day?” The primary reason why people celebrate this special event is to commemorate the lives of U.S. soldiers and other military personnel who sacrificed their lives and died in honor of their country. Before, people celebrated this event in honor of the casualties of the American Civil War when more than 600,000 soldiers – Union and Confederate – fell in battle. The entire country celebrates this event to honor all the Americans who have died while taking part in any kind of military action or war.
Happy Birthday shout outs to Byron McNeal, 5/29; Emori Burton, 5/29; Katherine Armstrong, 5/29; and Susie Hemby, 5/30. Happy belated birthday to my brother Dexter Brown on 5/11. May the Lord bless all of you with many more.
Continue to pray for people who are in the hospitals, for the ones who are sick in their homes, for our children, teachers and families, for the men and women who are serving our country, for the incarcerated and for the bereaved families everywhere.
As I leave you, please be safe and stay protected. Remember to patronize with our local businesses here in town; let us try to support our own as much as we can.
If you live in the City of Henderson and have news about your families, birthdays, anniversaries, announcements or things happening in the City, I need to HEAR from you. Call me at 989-1907 and leave your message, or you may email me at gloria_holiday@msn.com.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK!
