SO glad I was raised partially by
the kind people at Jackson
United Methodist church, of
course along with my strict par-
ents and the rest of the adults in
our small town. Get in trouble
while you’re away from home
and it wouldn’t matter whose
parent was close by, you’d still
get a strong reprimand and a
promise that both Mom and Dad
would be advised of the misstep.
Neat we could walk to the
church too and loved learning
the wonderful songs, such as
Jesus Loves Me and lots more.
Summer Bible School would
enhance the scriptures we’d
learned on Sunday morning
from the kind teachers. Moved
on up into our pre-teens and got
into afternoon badminton les-
sons, plus the occasional sleep-
over in the big basement. Food
was always provided, plus arts
and crafts material, and class-
room handouts we could take
home to study.
Next Christian fun was MYF
and that included little trips to
Griffin to dine at a drive-in
restaurant; neat to see the food
brought out to us on a tray which
the waitress affixed to the car’s
window sill. Probably already
bragged about the pastor’s wife
surprising us one Sunday after-
noon with an amazing food odd-
ity we’d never seen … pizza.
We’d go on little outings around
town, selling home-made pack-
ets of fudge brownies and some-
times sold donated fresh fruits
right out of local gardens. Neat
that our youth group at
McDonough holds a twenty-four
hour fast and the adults donate
per hour. They also sold Krispy
Kreme donuts from the old Rite
Aid parking lot a few weeks ago.
Unfortunately growing up with
all these wonderful Christian
leaders did not always succeed
in making me a perfect person.
Hey, there is just one who is
really perfect … Jesus! So, I try
to emulate Him as much as pos-
sible, that means no more swear
words on the road, be more for-
giving, and more helpful to those
in need. Love that little phrase
‘what would Jesus do’ and try to
apply it my life as much as pos-
sible. It helped a lot to have real-
ly strict parents and to grow up
afraid to step one foot over any
line! (Thanks Mom and Dad,
you saved me SO many times!)
Glad I have been introduced to
many wonderful Christians at
Mt. Bethel and they have truly
helped me by example, and lots
of neat Sunday school lessons
too. A few of those dedicated
disciples have been Mt. Bethel
members even longer than me!
Thank you, all of you.
Wonderful sermon last Sunday
about how life would be if we
didn’t have Jesus and His teach-
ings. Pastor Mike spoke about
getting buried or married with-
out the proper send-offs. Plus,
we don’t want to get through
December without Christmas
and can’t imagine not having
wonderful Easter celebrations.
If I’m stressed out, I know exact-
ly which Bible verse to recite
and have them all marked in my
Bibles; a valium effect without
having to swallow a pill! Still
smile when I think of how many
times I’ve sang “Jesus Loves
Me” in my brain and gotten
through medical procedures
without a flinch. Love our
monthly ritual of communion;
pretty sure the bread comes from
the Publix deli and that’s just
fine with me! No wine at Mt.
Bethel, but we dip our little por-
tion of whole grain in some tasty
grape juice. Wonderful rituals,
awesome Sunday mornings and
glad Jesus did come into our
world, plus very happy I became
acquainted with His house, His
book and His music. Will keep
praying and praying for peace to
come over our country and our
world and that more and more
will become Christians.
Beverly Wittler has four chil-
dren, eight grandchildren and
one great-granddaughter. She
lives in McDonough with her
husband.
OPINION
The Henry County Times
Page 4
The Henry County Times
Published faithfully
each Wednesday by
The Henry County
Times, Inc.
48 Racetrack Road
McDonough, GA 30253
770-957-6314
Presorted Standard
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McDonough, GA 30253
Postmaster, send address
changes to:
The Henry County Times
P.O. Box 2407
McDonough, GA 30253
The Henry County Times
Publisher
Mickie Jackson
Assistant Editor
Seth Jackson
Office Manager
John Jackson
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Graphic Artisté, Webmaster
Nick Vassy
Contributing Writers
Jimmy Cochran
Brenda Nail DeLauder
Kathy Henderson
Mary Jane Owen
D. J. Sweetenham
Beverly Wittler
May 25, 2016
The views expressed in Letters to
the Editor and on the Opinion page
are not necessarily those of
The
Henry County Times
.
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County Times
is not responsible for
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columns. We invite all responses to
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Georgia, 30253
“Healing is a matter of time, but it is
sometimes also a matter of opportunity.”
~ Hippocrates
“At the heart of Christian faith is the
story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.”
~ John Ortberg
A Christian life
BEVERLY
WITTLER
Columnist
Sunday morning and I was get-
ting ready to go to church. My
wife goes much earlier to prepare
the coffee so I was on my own in
the house except for Delila, our
little girl dog who tries very hard
to be a Sammy replacement. That
is good of her to try but that can
never happen. I was trying to get
my eighty two year old fingers to
manipulate the fairly small but-
tons into the button holes of a
new shirt, all of which appeared
to be at least one size smaller
than necessary. As my usual form
of dress is T-shirt and jeans, put-
ting on a shirt with buttons and a
collar is really “Putting on the
Ritz” for me. I had just got the
first button locked in place, when
I heard a very slight knock on the
bedroom window. That may
have been a piece of wood bro-
ken off from a nearby tree, I
thought but continuing to strug-
gle with large buttons in small
holes I also continued to worry
about that “slight knock” at the
window. Finally, I could stand it
no longer. I threw the new shirt
on the bed, grabbed a T-shirt
which I rapidly pulled over my
head and let it flap over my paja-
ma pants as I dashed out of the
bedroom, heading down into the
yard at the back of the bedroom
window. Sure enough, laying on
the concrete was a small bird and
when I picked him up he could
barely move his head. I cradled
him in my hand while I made
soothing (I hoped) sounds trying
to ease his anxiety. I noticed that
his right wing seemed to be part-
ly extended and added to my
prayers that it wasn’t broken.
I nursed him for a few moments
while I tried to come up with a
“plan of action” which would
keep him alive as I would be
going to church. Suddenly, like a
flash-bulb going off I remem-
bered the pet carrier sitting on the
floor of the lean-to shed. I found
a small plastic pot laying along-
side the carrier which I quickly
washed out and filled with water
for the bird. I splashed a little on
his beak and he seemed to appre-
ciate that. Then I gently eased the
hand holding the bird inside the
carrier and eased him off my fin-
gers. I was so relieved when he
stood up and showed signs of
regaining his senses. I had some
bird seed which I kept for the
bird feeder on the other side of
the yard and I put some on the
floor of the carrier. Our little
avian visitor had almost every-
thing to ensure a full revival.
Security from the local feral cats
was very important but the carri-
er was fitted with a heavy steel
wire grid at the front end which
could be locked with a spring
clip. I then turned my attention to
preparations for church.
After washing my hands, I
quickly changed shirts and pants.
It’s funny, I thought. Why are the
shirt buttons fitting the button
holes so easily now? I was ready
to go in just a couple of minutes.
I had just enough time before I
left to go round to the lean-to to
say goodbye and that I would be
back in a couple of hours. He
couldn’t quite manage a squeak
in reply, but he tried.
I arrived at the church at exact-
ly 10.15 a.m. the start of the
morning Service and I felt really
good. I just knew that the little
bird I had rescued that morning
would once more be singing his
songs of joy to the world and I
praised the Lord for that. As soon
as we returned from church, I
dashed around the house to the
lean-to. Our little visitor looked
to be well enough to try a short
flight and I gently lifted him out
of the carrier. As soon as he
could see freedom in front of
him, he took off and landed only
a few feet away on a branch of
my old fig tree. I put some more
bird seed on the ground under his
perch but I think he must have
filled up on the seed I had left in
the carrrier. With one last wave
of his slightly crooked but opera-
tional wing our friend took off to
parts unknown. Before he left I
told him to stay away from win-
dows. With Jesus on his side, he
can’t go wrong.
D.J. Sweetenham, originally
from England, is the author of
Bumps in the Road and Bumps in
the Road - Part Two, highlights
of his interesting and far-flung
life. D.J., his wife, and two small
dogs, live in Stockbridge.
A small rescue - but everyone counts
D. J.
SWEETEN-
HAM
Columnist
