More About Our Neighbor's Fire

Gratitude is something of which none of us can give too much. For on the smiles, the thanks we give, our little gestures of appreciation, our neighbors build their philosophy of life.-- A. J. Cronin

Isn't it true that we look to others to build and enhance our own philosophy of life, not just as children, but even as adults? I, myself, constantly find inspiration in others, in their strength and perseverance, patience and kindness, not only in the face of large obstacles, but also in the consistency of daily interactions. Although I already have my own basis of being at this point in my life, I think that a person is a constant work in progress. I see in others role models of how I would like to evolve, glimpses of improvements I can make each day. Likewise, I see plenty of examples of how not to act as well. As disheartening as those exposures are, I believe they are also necessary. If we do not see the evil in the world, how would we realize the true extent good?

Below is a link to the newscast and an article about the fire I wrote about yesterday. Cathy Morris is a fantastic example of a woman who has endured terrific hurdles with dignity. Her calm during the interview is amazing. Could I endure repeated tragedies with the grace and faith that she has? I doubt it. No, I know that I could not. I admire her calm and her faith, and I am eager to help them as much as I can. She is right that she has good neighbors. This is a close-knit community, and there are many people who will reach out to them. Still, they have lost every material item they own. That is no small loss, especially this time of year. This is a family who is teaching their neighbors a beautiful lesson about their philosophy of life. I encourage you to watch the short clip, if you have a few minutes.

Family, Dog Escaped House Fire