Teachers, doctors, librarians and neighbors all help us in some way
While this special Heroes section of The Blackshear Times is devoted to the dedicated law enforcement officers, firefighters and first responders of our community, let us take a moment to acknowledge Pierce County is home to many kinds of heroes. Teachers, doctors, librarians and neighbors all help us in some way.
They might not always carry a badge or wear a uniform, perhaps the bravery they embrace is less obvious, the effect less immediate yet no less important, but they give us the help we need when we need it the most.
A phone call to check on you when the furious pace of modern life causes us to fall out of touch with those around us. A note of encouragement or thanks tucked away somewhere where we will find it. Even a wordless hand laid upon our shoulder or small sympathetic smile can give us the strength to overcome whatever challenges we face. Sometimes we might not even know their names. Someone who stops to check on us when our car is stuck on the side of the road. A smiling face or a kind word said in passing. A misplaced phone or wallet found and returned. The driver pulled up alongside you at the red light who lets you know your tire is low or a brake light has gone out.
Two things come to mind when I think of the many kind of heroes in Pierce County. Abraham Lincoln once wrote of “the better angels on our nature” that bound our country together. A considerable time later, in the early 90s, the country group Alabama released the popular song “Angels Among Us”. A few of the lines are as follows: When life held troubled times, and had me down on my knees There's always been someone there to come along and comfort me A kind word from a stranger, to lend a helpin' hand A phone call from a friend, just to say I understand And ain't it kind of funny that at the dark end of the road Someone lights the way with just a single ray of hope
Pierce County is full of humble, everyday angels and heroes. Whoever that angel or hero is for you, I encourage you to stop and thank them for however it was they helped you along the way. More than that, return the love and bravery you have received by becoming a hero for someone else. Let the better angels of our nature help us to lift each other up and make Pierce County an even better place to work and live.
