‘Tis the time to be thankful!

Speaking for lots of people from lots of places, I’d like to say thank you.

The need to shout words of appreciation for all to hear was impressed on me these past few weeks when friends, neighbors and perfect strangers took the time and trouble to lend a hand to a couple of old folks.

I’m talking specifically about Larry, Mark and Betty, our neighbors, who went out of their way to help Barbara and me when we encountered difficulties during the 2018 holiday season.

Thursday morning, while trying to get Barbara to the hospital for an MRI, I got the car stuck out front of our duplex. Larry spotted the problem from a block away, and within minutes he was there to help us, using his pickup’s four-wheel drive and a chain to pull us out and get our car back in the driveway. He then proceeded to drive us to the hospital. And, then, after the MRI, he came back to get Barbara and me and drive us back home.

While thinking about how grateful we were, it reminded Barbara and me that Acts of Kindness are standard operating procedure in McCook’s Centennial Drive neighborhood.

Just a couple of weeks ago, upon our return from visiting our daughter’s family in California, we got locked out of our home. But, thankfully we were being transported by two other neighbors, Mark and Betty, who took the time to take us all around town to find a hotel room . . . which was tough to do because the Farm & Ranch Expo was starting the next day and vendors had filled local lodging places to capacity.

On top of that, in many different ways, our family, friends and neighbors brightened Barbara’s and my holiday season by remembering us with festive cards, delicious goodies, lovely caroling, thoughtful gifts and wonderful wishes for holiday happiness.

As I sat down to write this column, it occurred to me that the gratitude Barbara and I are feeling is multiplied many times over -- not only in the Golden Plains of America but all over the world -- by millions upon millions of Acts of Kindness.

Goodness is good. So very, very good. Let’s be like Larry, Mark, Betty and all the other good folks in the world who are sharing their hands and hearts to help others.

Thanks everyone. Together we can change the world.