Let’s face it. We live in trying times. Inflation is kicking us in the backside, and it seems that every time you turn around, someone is hurting someone else. And for whatever reason, we seem more interested in hearing about the morbid than the marvelous.

Take heart, fellow citizens. There is still good in the world, because good men and women continue to act. I was blessed to witness a miracle take place in Tifton during the past month, and I want to share it with you. We need some good news.

Recently Cindy, our church secretary, and her family set out to bless a Marine family. Cindy’s son is a United States Marine, and he has been stateside ministering words of encouragement to a Marine wife whose husband is stationed in Afghanistan. Cindy thought it would be great to provide a more tangible demonstration of love to this family. A seed was planted, and you, Tifton, provided the water. The young man’s wife thinks (correctly) that her husband is going to receive a care package from some folks in Tifton, Ga. What she doesn’t know is that the entire platoon (45 Marines) will receive care packages.

The miracle is what took place in our community when people became aware of the effort. You called, you dropped off donations, you sent money. And background didn’t matter; you gave because the cause was just, and it was good.

As I gazed at the mountains of goods — undergarments, personal care items, food, games, books — my heart was full. It was overwhelming to see what was accomplished when many contributed to a common cause. And I couldn’t help but think about the implications of this simple truth: “e pluribus unum” — out of many, one. What if we all purposed in our hearts to work together like this on every front? What could we accomplish in our neighborhood? Our schools? Our communities? Our nation?

Am I being simplistic? Maybe. Maybe not. I witnessed it. We are about to make a difference, and it happened because many united into one. And it wasn’t that hard. Our founding fathers understood this principle well, and I pray that we will remember it.

Cindy, thank you for planting the seed.

Tifton, thank you for providing the water.

Precious Lord, thank you for providing the increase.

“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”

1 Corinthians 3:7-9

Laurie Mullen