Thankfulness

As we transition from Halloween to the Thanksgiving season, it's a good time to reflect on thankfulness. Spending time with family and friends is a big part of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, and we may take that for granted sometimes.

In late September, hurricane Helene brought massive amounts of rain and devastated parts of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The hurricane caused widespread flooding, which resulted in property damage, power outages, water shortages, impassable roads, and people being trapped in their homes. Cities and towns were devastated, and many lives were lost. The damage was unimaginable. Most of us probably have friends or family that were affected by the storm. Though you could watch the news or scroll social media to see some of the damaged towns and the toll it had on the citizens, it's only a glimpse of the large-scale devastation.

It was a reminder to me to be thankful.

In the Bible, Thessalonians 5:18 says, "Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." For the most part, Canton and Cherokee County were spared from Helene's damage and destruction. I'm thankful to our local leaders and first responders for preparing our community for the storm. EMS kept us well informed, and our first responders and public works employees were ready to be dispatched when necessary.

I'm also thankful for the organizations and individuals right here in Cherokee County that stepped up to assist those affected by the storm. Companies, churches, schools, and many others assisted by sending supplies and volunteers to lend a helping hand. Private individuals also organized disaster relief. Many sent money and supplies, helped with storm clean up, cut down trees, provided shelter, and offered comfort.

The generosity of the people of Canton and Cherokee County makes me proud to live here.