Crystal Faircloth, Staff Writer
crystalfaircloth@columbuscounty.news
It’s a tumultuous time in the world right now. I don’t believe I have ever seen the country so divided, or seen folks so bent on tearing each other apart. So much so that folks are considering quitting jobs that they’ve had for years.
My heart goes out to an acquaintance of mine, Katie Compton Boyd. This morning as I woke up with a heavy heart and a headache to boot, I ran across a long post she had written on Facebook. Katie has her own business, but she also has a life and family of her own to tend to. She spoke of how negative people have become, and how irresponsible some can be. She speaks of late nights running to kiss her boy goodnight, and early mornings rushing out the door. She speaks of selfish people trying steal her services, and careless parents leaving their children in situations that result in Katie having to comfort three-year-olds and wipe away their tears.
Like most of us, she has a household to support, and feels greatly unappreciated beyond measure by what she does while working her fingers to the bone. I do believe that has become a common trend as of late.
You may have read my recent article concerning the local animal shelter. No matter their efforts, these folks are also objects of ridicule. So are retailers. The cashier at the local Dollar General just yearns for a kind word or two, but more often than not, she is met with hostility and selfishness. Most in the service industry are at the wrong end of the stick right now.
A teacher is constantly disrespected over and over by a child in the classroom. That child parrots words said by parents in the home. They are truly groomed to think that this is the acceptable way to treat others.
It’s easy to complain and put negativity out there, but have you ever thought about what we would do without these people and their services?
What if all government agencies shutdown completely? The pandemic proved how hard this was on the general public. What if restaurants and stores suddenly closed their doors never to open again? What if teachers walked out of classrooms and others refused to take their place? What an ignorant world it would be.
Police officers, EMS, and firefighters are another target as of late. People bellow “DEFUND THE POLICE!” yet when they are victims of violent crimes, 911 is the first number they call. When they are in an accident, the EMS team and the local firefighters are the first ones on the scene. They save lives and put out the fires of homes burning to the ground, but the ridicule continues.
They didn’t get there fast enough, or they didn’t do things as quickly as someone thought they should. These folks jump up in the middle of night from a deep sleep, or walk out the door in the middle of Christmas dinner. They work tirelessly during natural disasters without seeing their families for days at the time, but to those who have never done the job it’s never enough.
Finally, when someone loses their life in the line of duty it is prayed over and thought about tremendously. Apparently, that’s the point when it’s finally enough.
A life lost or a job quit is finally enough sacrifice for someone else to open their eyes. It’s finally enough for “old man” general public to see how backbreaking, time consuming, and gut-wrenching a job can be.
Say words of kindness. Tell others they are appreciated. Meet each other with empathy and understanding. Give offers of help and thanks. It goes back to that age old saying “Treat others as you would like to be treated.”
There’s also another saying: “If you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say it at all.”
Isaiah 58:10 “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in the darkness and your gloom will be as the noonday.”
