Doing Thankfulness
CAROL JONES, Milford — “I speak words of endearment to all my customers and thank them every day for coming in and tell them to have a good day.”
KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Americans, of course, have much to be thankful for. We have been blessed with abundance and freedom like perhaps no other nation in history.
At this time of year, our sense of gratitude is heightened by celebrating a holiday specifically dedicated to the concept of thankfulness.
Most people, for many reasons, are thankful. Some, though, migrate from merely “being thankful” during the holidays to “doing thankfulness” year round.
Their gestures are small but constant, seemingly insignificant to outside observers but meaning the world to their recipients, mundane and earthy but proceeding from the treasure of a kind and compassionate heart.
Here are some of the good folks of Kosciusko County describing how they express their gratitude.
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- BOB ROBBINS, Warsaw — “I try to be kind to people. You know, ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’ As far as business is concerned, I try to treat customers the way I would want to be treated.”
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- JUSTIN McLAUGHLIN, North Webster — “I try to help my neighbors out by doing things like blowing leaves and mowing grass, and occasionally other gifts of service.”
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- PETE RANTZ, Pierceton — “Every day I try and be positive and appreciative and treat people with the respect we ought to be treating everybody with. Our society has lost track of kindness and respect. It just takes a pat on the back and a thank you. I thank many people every day for what they do.”
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- DIANE SHOEMAKER, Warsaw — “I volunteer to help at the senior center, like taking in pumpkin rolls. I have a neighbor who lost his wife this year. My grandkids are doing the Thanksgiving meal at my house and I will take dinner over to him. I take his trash cans back on Mondays and take him over food every now and then. He has been real good to me so I try to be good back to him.”
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- LARRY CRISWELL, Warsaw — “I help everybody. The biggest thing I do is I am in the honor guard at the VFW and I’m a member of the American Legion. I do the final resting ceremony for veterans throughout the county. I lend everybody money when they are in dire need. I have been blessed. I’m a Vietnam vet and probably lucky to be alive. I teach Sunday school and summer Bible school, run a summer youth league, I’m president of the men’s city softball league and president of the church basketball league.”
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- MELISSA STEFFEN, Warsaw — “I volunteer at the American Legion on my days off, where I also work part-time. I want to be here. I want to help the veterans, just taking care of them, helping them with computers, serving them their dinners and funeral dinners. I just help people with compassion. I love helping my friends.”
