About to exit his office building, we ran into the incoming State Regent of Florida and some of the FLDAR Daughters who were preparing for a US Capitol dome tour. I introduced the ladies to Congressman Norman who requested a picture be taken with his personal phone. The security guard turned into the photographer as several pictures with several phones were used to take pictures of the group.
It was such a beautiful day as we walked across the grounds of the US Capitol to the Kennedy Caucus Room. Upon our arrival, Congressman Norman began introducing me to everyone. I felt like royalty! But, when he offered to get me coffee, my paging instincts took over, and instead, I got him his coffee. After all, he is the Congressman, and I am a constituent.
Everyone enjoyed a wonderful southern breakfast complete with perfectly cooked grits. I can say that I have not always had well cooked grits in Washington, DC.
I had the pleasure of being introduced to Senator Scott. The three of us had a picture together when out of the blue Senator Scott said that I was the rose between the thorns. I got a good giggle from that comment. The staff is still searching for that picture which I will post. Even though his comment was not meant in this context, I have just come to realize that indeed I was a rose between the thorns. Let me explain.
The beautiful rose is protected from predators and harm by the thorns on its stem. As a constituent, I am protected by my Congressman and my Senators in Washington when they cast their votes that make laws and establish policies and procedures designed to give me, as an American citizen, the opportunity to have the best life possible. Therefore, it is imperative that I continue to be an informed citizen and cast my vote at elections just as it is imperative for each citizen to do the same.
Our forefathers gave their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to provide us a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. However, the only way this will continue is if we, the American citizens, remained informed and exercise our privilege to cast our ballot at each election of which we are given a voice. How often we take for granted that this is a privilege not possessed by all around the world. Each day we need to remind ourselves that "freedom is not free"! We are so used to living our lives without having to worry about anything except what's for dinner that we forget that every day, 24 hours a day, we have men and women around the world serving in our nation's armed forces ready, at a moment's notice, to thwart any effort to remove those freedoms from us and will sacrifice their own lives to do so!
Now, having this thought in my mind, the SC Delegation Breakfast takes on an even more special meaning especially considering the verse chosen this year. As a reminder, the verse was Mark 4:20. It reads from the KJV, "And they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred, and from the NIV "Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop - some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown."
As shared by each of the SC Delegation, it is so important that what is sown produces a crop one hundred fold. Representatives cheat the American public when they allow party lines to prevent them from coming together and passing the best laws and setting the best policies and procedures in place that result in a crop that is only thirty or sixty fold.
The first of the delegation to speak was Congressman Norman who was due on the House floor first thing that morning.
https://youtu.be/wY4KKmILUT0
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| Joe Cunningham - D-SC District 1 |
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| William Timmons - R-SC District 4 - youngest respresentative in the U.S. government |
One of the aspects I enjoyed most was the comedic aspect of Senator Scott. His humor had me in stitches as the saying goes all the while he never lost the impetus of the event. To hear him speak about how badly the Republicans lost the baseball games when he played and how they had asked him not to play anymore was hysterical. Who knew he had such a trait as that?
The words of the member of our delegation that struck a chord with me the most was Congressman Duncan of the 3rd District. I can only hope that my words will do his story the justice and passion which it deserves. I don't know how many of you are aware of the yearly Democrat versus Republican baseball game that takes place at the Washington Capitals stadium. Duncan is a member of the Republican team. To prepare for the game, practices are held. Last year, Duncan went to practice for the game. He spoke to a gentleman in the parking lot as he proceeded to begin practicing with the team. What he did not realize was that this man had generated a list of 6 representatives of our government that he planned to assassinate. Duncan was on that list of 6!
Duncan doesn't know why he had been selected as one of the 6 to assassinate, but that knowledge changed his life. He wears a white bracelet that has the word ONE on it. He doesn't wear it for the purpose it was made but to remind him daily that we may only have that one day left in our lives. He emphasized how we needed to tell those that we love how much we love them each day and to let people know how much we appreciated them and what they do and never let a day go by without telling them. In relation to the verse, each day is a one and only opportunity to do our best and to be our best. His life has been forever changed by that day. He hoped that we would learn from his words to cherish each day and not be in regret when that one day turns out to be the last whether his or for someone he loves.
My thoughts immediately turned to that awful day when Mama collapsed. I asked myself if I had said those words to her before she collapsed. To be honest, I don't remember, but I wish I could say absolutely that I had. Since I seem to be on my soapbox with this post, I am not going to stop now. If I did, those that truly know me would think something was wrong! I want to encourage you, no implore you, to ensure that the words, "I love you" are said everyday and throughout the day to everyone that you love. Husbands and wives need to say those words to each other. Parents need to say those words to their children. Even though it is not considered manly, fathers need to say those words to their sons and vice versa.
Not only that, but we need to express our appreciation to others for what they do even for the smallest of things. How many times are things done that are expected and, therefore, taken for granted? We need to stop taking things that are done for each other for granted, no matter how small. This includes husbands/wives, within a family, bosses/employees, among co-workers, and with our friends.
Don't have any regrets in the event that something happens because we don't know when that "one" day may come.
Due to the fact that Congressman Norman had to be on the House floor and I had a luncheon to attend, I had the privilege of meeting Congressman Norman the next morning to take him to see the Cox Corridors and learn of their history.
I leave you with a last thought, and that is ...
ONE
one day, one moment, one opportunity - don't waste it, don't live in regret
ONE
