My Fellow Astorians Recently, I observed several individuals expressing gratitude during important moments. One thanked their teammates; another acknowledged their brother and his family for support during an illness; at a seminar, a female coach or teacher (not sure) extended thanks to everyone present, especially her wife of twelve years. It is interesting to note the emphasis on thanking people close to us, whereas traditional expressions of gratitude—such as thanking God or Jesus—seem less prominent.
Isn’t that kind of strange, I mean what happened to thanking God, thank you Jesus, praise God in Jesus name. Are we at the point now that everything matters more than saying Hello and Savior our father are we now living in a society that says it’s OK to worship and praise other people. All of my life was always known that God was my provider, always known that he brought me out of things. Jesus, my savior has always been there for me. I really can’t put my hand on any particular person that’s walking around that I can say thank you for making me the person that I am today as I travel through life, especially as being President of this great organization, I hear a lot. Complaining about this person, that person, this committee, that committee, why are they (He), doing it this way, we used to do it that way, historically we’ve always done it that way. Now they (He), want to change it. I hear the questions. I don’t really hear the answers. I do what I do based on The Rules and Bylaws of the Astoria Beneficial Club, Inc and what I know from being in this organization for over 30 years, I’ve learned that there are some things you just can’t do by yourself, and you really can’t get the real support that you need, but I can always call on God. I can tell him I’ve done all I can. I need your help and not once he did not come through. I can say the same thing about my personal life. There are some things that I’ve tried to do my way and I was determined that my way was the best and only way , but I was shown and I didn’t know at the time by whom, that sometimes you just have to turn it over to someone else I used to think that that was a sign of weakness when I couldn’t figure it out and I couldn’t come up with the right answer. But there are some things in life that you are not meant to carry and some yokes that are not your yoke and I just wanna say not just as members of this club but as individuals we need to start walking in faith we need to stop getting upset because someone don’t agree with us. We need to not get upset because your way is not the majority way, so keep in mind as we move into this second half to be open minded listeners of the word and the trust God.
I ask you continue to pray with me to make this Club as our Purpose indicate.
I’m not the smartest person in the world, I didn’t go to college, I don’t have any formal training as being a leader, served my country or an educator or a speaker. I’m a product of the ghetto of North Philadelphia and the West End of Richmond, Virginia, but doing my lateral years I am increasingly rely on my faith, my belief and my trust in God he said “I will never leave you or forsake you” I’ve got to live that, and I will. Hopefully this will inspire you to not always look around, but to look above. God offers tranquility and I hope you find encouragement here to live without stress and worry.
Harry D. Reid, Sr. President-Astoria Beneficial Club, Inc.
