LETTERS: A SEASON FOR SAYING THANK YOU

To the editor:

After reading the letter from a gentleman commenting on children getting too much for Christmas, I felt I had to write. My story is different. I want to acknowledge an thank many people, but most of all I want to note the generous spirit of friends, family and total stangers who are my neighbors.

On April 1, 1996, my husband, David, was diagnosed with leukemia. It doesn't matter the type. It doesn't matter for how long. What does matter is that my family was in need. We were so grateful to the Style Stop Impact Salon for hosting a cut-athon and bake sale. Then before we knew what was happening, fund raising was going strong. You see, my husband didn't have a job when he was diagnosed. Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville joined in along with the Gordonville branch of Aid Association for Lutherans. Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson and the Tilsit branch of AAL made donations to our family. All the donations were for chemotherapy drugs, daily runs for outpatient treatment, unpaid hospital bills and food. Our neighbors collected, the Jacksonian Charter Chapter of the American Business Women's Association collected, and a benefit dance was held by good friends and lots and lots of help from the Jackson Knights of Columbus.

David lost his fight with leukemia on Sept. 5, 1998. But our friends and neighbors still stood by us. Another benefit dance put together by very good friends and family from Southeast Missouri Hospital was held. Jan and the crew came through with Nashville entertainment and matching funds from the Gordonville AAL again. Then there was a breakfast put on by the Jackson Knights of Columbus again. These things were to help with funeral expenses for a family with no life insurance.

Now it's Christmas. How do you thank, without tears in my eyes, a prayer group in Cape Girardeau which decided to donate money to my family so the kids could have a good Christmas? How do I look without tears at the 12-year-old little girl who attends my church and who gave me a Christmas car with $40 saved from her allowance to be used by my family for Christmas?

We all have terrific friends and family in the area. I have always been raised witht he Golden Rule in mind. I was raised with the ideas from my church that it is better to give. You know the lines: Better to give than receive, whatever goes around comes around. Well, I have one better: We have been blessed.

Through hardship and misery, the Lord, family and friends have been there for for the kids and me. One of David's favorite movies of all times was "It's a Wonderful Life." The all-time favorite Christmas movie was played in our home throughout the year. It is very ironic that David worked in radio for many years and went by the name of Dave Bailey. His favorite movie character was George Bailey. Well, George Bailey may have been the richest man in Bedford Falls, but the David Murphy family is the most blessed family in this town. We have to thank all of our friends, family, church congregations and strangers for all the generous prayers, hugs and money donations. Many thanks go out to Monsignor Edward Eftink and Pastor D. Lee Cullen for all their support.

I'm sorry, but I think we have some great kids in this area and some great adults as role models. Yes, they are spoiled kids just like mine. But I do hope friends and neighbors like mine can shine like the lights on a Christmas tree with lots of present underneath.

PEARLA MURPHY

Jackson