Millions of small businesses have had a difficult year in 2020. As the novel coronavirus COVID-19 spread across the globe, governments all over the world took unprecedented measures to prevent the virus from claiming more lives. Public health measures like social distancing undoubtedly saved lives, but small businesses bore the brunt of the economic impact of such measures.
Chuck and Brenda Stennett are partners in business and life. With a 32-year marriage and a successful business, the sky is the limit. They credit their success to hard work and good communication. Most days, you will find both at Chuck’s Kwik Change—with Mr. Stennett in the pit and Mrs. Stennett in the books.
The accomplishments of man throughout human history are exceedingly great. There is no doubt that man, who bears the image of God, has been gifted with an intellectual capacity that exceeds all other creatures God has created upon the face of this earth. We will all agree that these historical accomplishments were not done apart from fortitude, perseverance, and an unwavering mind. For a man who seeks to climb to the highest peak of a mountain must first count the cost. There will be many obstacles that he must overcome. He will have to strain every muscle and every sinew in his body, and with great exertion of energy, applying all strength, he will have to prevail over his own limitations. His mind will be saying “turn back,” but his body will be saying “press forward,” for who knows the glory that lies ahead. And once he reaches the top, pressing pass the anguish of his own pain, he will see the beauty of the valley below in a light like he has never seen it before. It is then he will be able to tell others who started the journey, but never finished it.
God’s plans don’t always feel wonderful. Sometimes His providence cuts right to the core of our being. Just ask Mary. Mary walked up to the temple with her precious eight day old firstborn son, and a stranger approached her. He told this very young mother, who was still sore and hiding a swollen postpartum belly underneath her clothing, that because of this child a sword would pierce her very soul. How could Mary understand what that meant when she looked into the face of her sweet baby with all the hope in the world? How could she have imagined that God’s great plan for this child would cause her so much pain, a heartbreak that probably felt unsurvivable? No, she couldn’t have known. Sometimes God’s plans, as good as they are, as purposeful as they are, as absolutely right and perfect as they are, come with unbelievable pain.
With Thanksgiving next week, I began to think about family and all the things I am thankful for. The things I am thankful for, hmmm… That is a very long list. I suppose the older you get the more things you accumulate to be thankful for.
213 E. Main St.
PO Box 577
Olney, Texas 76374
Phone: (940) 564-5558
Fax: (940) 564-3992