Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

With all of the bad news that we hear constantly, all of the divorces, separations, and all of the mistreatment of the “long-term ill,” I feel that the good news of a true love story should be heard. Please publish:

A TRUE LOVE STORY

This year I was invited to a home in Richmond to celebrate Thanksgiving dinner with a couple that I had never met. I was warned by relatives of the couple that I may be upset with the wife’s condition, but as a Minister I have seen a lot and nothing upsets me.

First a little background: the couple is in their mid-50s, the wife has been bedridden with MS for over 25 years. The husband has equipped his wife’s bedroom with two TVs, one on either side of the bed so that she may watch television regardless of her position; a fish tank that she enjoys watching is nearby. Her room is immaculately clean and so is she. There is a camera that he can watch from work to make sure she is well taken care of and that there is no emergency. He employs nurses’ aides five days a week to make sure that she is taken care of, turned frequently to avoid bedsores and that her every need is met.

He takes over her care every day and night after work, and always cares for her over the weekend, bathing, changing the bedding, and making her comfortable.

My friend invited me and when we arrived we were warmly greeted by the husband. There were other relatives there and more came during the day. The husband was busy cooking the turkey and taking care of the details of the dinner, yet he never neglected his guests or his wife!

Before and after dinner the husband would quietly slip away from the crowd, and gently and tenderly check on his wife and cover her if she had become uncovered. His tenderness and concern for her were always evident.

In this day and age, when the trend is to “put away” permanently ill relatives in nursing homes and other medical facilities, visiting them seldom if ever, I was deeply touched by his dedication and devotion to his wife. There was no flamboyant announcement of “I must take care my wife.” Just simply love, devotion and dedication!

As Christmas approaches I pray that we will all keep this example of love, devotion and true dedication in mind. When we ask, “What Would Jesus do?” I saw the true answer up close and very personal. I hope that we will all keep this in mind as we share Christmas with our friends and family.

Merry Christmas and God bless you all!

Rev. Furman Joye, Prospect, VA

Southern Virginia Makers Market Thanks You

Dear Editor;

The holiday season makes us all aware of the many blessings bestowed upon us. It offers us the opportunity to reflect on the many gifts we are granted.

The board of the The Southern Virginia Makers Market is so very grateful to all of the makers, producers, farmers, and bakers that have made our two fundraising events the overwhelming successes that they have been.

The Farm to Table dinner and the Dinner with Dracula could not have been possible without the support of Browntown Farms, Starke Family Farms, Fair Produce, Willows Bend Farm, Brickland Farm, Old Crowe Farm, Brick Goldman, and Mica Hill Farm.

Additionally, we would like to thank these artisan makers, producers and bakers for allowing us to showcase their talents as well: Birdie’s Pimento Cheese, Hinzman’s Jams & Jellies, Country Kitchen Herbs, Yerby’s Honey, Goats R Us, Real Country Sausage, Sweets & Treats, Rosemont Vineyards, Mardelian Farm, and Buggs Island Brewing.

Serving Mecklenburg, Brunswick, Halifax, Nottoway, Charlotte, Lunenburg, Greenville and Dinwiddie Counties, The Southern Virginia Makers Market is an economic development project for our rural community. Focusing on our agricultural heritage, the main objectives are to increase profits for local small farms, increase consumption of local foods by the local community, assist new food businesses in becoming viable, and to benefit local low income communities.

With a grand opening planned for spring of 2019, the Makers Market is a 501 (c) 3 organization, seeking to create successful agribusiness in our community while preserving the heritage of our family farms and local cuisine. We look forward to stocking our shelves and limited hours of operation for the early 2019 season.

We invite everyone to support our local farmers, seek out the handmade gift, and to embrace the traditions of the farm this holiday season.

Robin Allen, Treasurer, The Southern Virginia Food Hub, Inc., South Hill, Va.