Ask Billie

Maybe this is not the time to ask, but how does your house look today? Are there packages, some open and others waiting to be delivered? Is your kitchen cluttered because you have been cooking for family and guests? Are there still cards to be mailed to friends in far off places and calls to be made to those you hold dear? Are your lists longer than hours in the day?

My desk is the place where things begin to stack up. A sheet of paper that seems to be working its way to the top is a quote by Paul Harris, the founder of what we know today as Rotary International. In a Rotarian magazine in 1946, Paul Harris said, "We must help all nations in distress and raise the standards of living of the lowly. If we steadfastly pursue this course, prosperity such as we have never enjoyed before will be ours, the wheels of industry will be kept turning and all nations will be friends. What a blessing it would be to live in a friendly world, where all nations are good neighbors."

Yes, that was 61 years ago and we really have not learned a lot, have we? We may be thinking there is not much we can change about our national and international situation. Change can start at home, in the neighborhood, with one or two people. Most changes start with a single idea.

As we sing about peace on earth and goodwill to men I venture to say we can find every condition right here in Wharton, that exists in other parts of the world. Thankfully, we are not hearing bombs, but if we listen we can hear the cry of the lonely, children in need of care and elderly who would love a friendly visit.

Wharton folks are wonderfully generous at Christmas, with both time and money. What a blessing it is to be part of a caring community.

We have another segment of our community that I had never really thought about until a hurricane was on the way and we were under mandatory evacuation. While working the phone bank set up by our emergency management teams, calls were coming in from across the country concerning some of our elderly. We have people who live in their homes, do not necessarily have monetary needs but have people needs.

Holidays can be lonely for those by themselves. We all know someone we can call just for a friendly chat; tell them they are thought of and appreciated. They will feel better and so will we.

Please consider this my personal call to each of you, my appreciation and love, may you know that special joy sent 2,000 years ago.