Bank of Holly Springs

Fielder’s Choice

Counting my blessings

There’s a lot to be thankful for.

I’m thankful for my family, and I’m thankful that we’re all doing well, health-wise, and in our lives in general.

The South Reporter continues to keep Pam and I busy. No two days are the same.

Emma and Andy are both in the working world now and blessed with good jobs – Emma in Little Rock, Ark., and Andy in Brandon.

Erin is nearing the middle of her junior year in high school and getting mail from prospective colleges each day.

And our family is thankful for the people of Holly Springs and Marshall County, who welcomed us with open arms 17 and a half years ago. It’s a great place to call home.

I’m thankful to be a Christian and be married to a Christian lady, whose father was a preacher.

I was raised in the church. My mother made sure I was there, every time the doors were open. And I watched her not just go to church (because it takes much more than that to be a Christian), but also continuously help others in her community. She loved God, she loved the church, she loved her neighbors and she loved her family – all more than herself.

I will forever be thankful for her love and for her example.

She cooked the best turkey and dressing ever. Other people can try to match it but none can. And her banana pudding was the best, too.

I’m thankful for our church family here in Holly Springs.

Hopefully your church family is like ours – loving and encouraging.

And our church is more and more reaching out to our own community and other parts of the world, helping others less fortunate.

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

- Acts 20:35.

I’m thankful for my work family. The newspaper business is rewarding, but it can also be grueling.

I’ve got good people surrounding me throughout this South Reporter building.

We’re family. We’re here for each other, not just at the office, but in our personal lives. We celebrate our successes together and we help each other during the tough times.

I’m thankful for Lady, a dog I picked out last February at the Collierville, Tenn., Animal Shelter. She melted my heart then, and she still does.

If I go home from a stressful day at work, and she’s out in the yard with Erin, she comes running to my truck.

If I’m on the couch, she wants to join me. And as she immediately rolls over, and I rub her stomach, she’s carefree and I am, too.

I will admit – it’s not too fun taking her outside in 30-degree weather when it’s sleeting. But then I remember how she was treated by a previous owner before we rescued her at the shelter.

I’m thankful for all of you – our readers and our advertisers. Newspapers steadily face challenges, but in this community, you are here for us, and we are here for you. We’re in this together. And that’s just one of many reasons I love small towns and true community journalism.

Count your blessings this week, and from the Burleson family to your family, happy Thanksgiving!

Holly Springs South Reporter

P.O. Box 278
Holly Springs, MS 38635
PH: (662) 252-4261
FAX: (662) 252-3388
www.southreporter.com