"Well, I was born in a small town,
And I can breathe in a small town.
Gonna die in a small town,
And that's probably where they'll bury me."
As most of you probably know, these lyrics are from the song "Small Town" by John Mellencamp. This has always been one of my favorite songs because I can relate to it in so many ways. I was born and raised in a small town, and my dream was always to come back to this community to work and raise my family.
I know a lot of people say that they cannot wait to get out of the community where they live. They argue that there are no opportunities here or that there is nothing to do. Some people thrive in larger communities or even huge cities, but that is just not the case for me.
I have been thinking a lot lately about why I am so blessed to live in this place I call home. Within just the past few weeks, I can think of numerous examples that have made me proud to be from this small town.
The elementary school where I teach puts on a musical every spring, and it is one of my favorite parts of the school year. So many people put in so much time to ensure that the show is a success. This year, just as in years past, people donated their time and money to make costumes, painted backdrops, ran sound equipment, and much more. Many of these people do not even have children who were involved in the musical, but they live in the community and some attended the same school when they were younger. To me, this community support for our small school is invaluable!
The church I attend is also in the community where I was born and raised. It is a very small church, and it is the same church that I have attended since I was a baby. I would say that most people who go to our church would agree that we are a very strong church family, and the members are always there for one another and the community in times of need. One of our elder members is having some health problems, and he could not lay in bed to sleep because of breathing problems. His lift chair was broken, and his neighbor put out a call for help. Within hours, members of our church ensured that he had a new lift chair to use until his chair could be repaired. This type of support and love for one another happen all the time in our little country church, and this is just one more reason why I love where I am from.
The last story I want to share happened just a few weeks ago. One of the former principals of our elementary school passed away. Her funeral took place at the church in town, and she was buried in the cemetery which is also in the same town. The funeral procession went past the elementary school, and as it went past, all of the students and staff members were standing along the road with their hands over their hearts. Every time I think of this, I get emotional. This support and respect are what makes our community such an awesome place to live!
I think we often lose sight of the blessings around us that we sometimes take for granted. We always think that "the grass is greener on the other side," but I have learned that this is not usually the case. I am proud of where I am from, and I am happy to be raising my girls here also. I would love to hear what makes your community special!
