Counting blessings
This letter was laid on my heart to write. People should stop for a moment and look at what they have. I am a single mom with two children. One is 21 the other one is 13.
My 21-year-old is going to school to get an education so he can get a good job; he can’t even get any help for clothing. My 13-year-old has heart trouble. I have diabetes and other problems.
I can’t even get any help for my 13-year-old. He was in Children’s Hospital where he almost didn’t make it.
My children won’t even have a Christmas. There is no money to buy anything. I only receive disability. By the time you pay your bills, and buy some extra, especially diabetic food, you have nothing. But we thank the Lord we have him and each other. He makes sure we have our food to stretch and a roof over our head.
The true meaning of Christmas to me is our salvation and the love of Jesus.
Yvonne Bricker
Uniontown
Return acts of kindness
During a Friday evening snowstorm, my friend called to ask if I had seen the dog that had been abandoned at The Dairy Mart, located across the street from my house. I hadn’t, but I went to the window. What I saw broke my heart.
A small golden-colored dog was going up to every person and car entering the Dairy Mart, apparently looking for its owner. The dog had been reported to be wandering around the area since early in the afternoon. I watched this dog for about an hour, as it approached every car and person pulling into the store. I finally went over to get it after it started venturing out onto Hopwood-Fairchance Road.
I kept this female stray in my basement away from my other three dogs upstairs. She was an extremely friendly and frisky dog, although she was cold and hungry, with scuffed-up paws from searching all day for her owners. She appreciated the food, water and bath that I gave her. I called the SPCA, and Fayette Friends of Animals to find this dog a safe shelter. I left messages on their answering machines. When I called Noah’s Ark (a shelter for lost and abandoned animals) a kind man listened to my story only to interrupt to ask me where I lived. “Dean” was at my house in 10 minutes, and took this little golden dog to the Noah’s Ark shelter. The next day the SPCA and Fayette Friends of animals returned my calls and were ready and willing to help with this lost dog.
I am asking now for anyone reading this letter to return these acts of kindness from the SPCA, Fayette Friends of Animals, and Noah’s Ark by making a donation to these organizations. There are other dog placement facilities, such as St. Francis Paw’s Society, that are also worthwhile and in need of funds. If five people would donate $5, many animals would get another day of food and shelter.
Donating is a good way to feel the true spirit of the holidays, and one act of kindness can erase a bad day at work. By the way, give Noah’s Ark a call if you would like to adopt this beautiful little dog. She has a huge, golden heart to match the color of her fur.
Ellen Chrise
Uniontown