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Sidetracked to achieve His purpose
I’ve collected many stories
over the years via e-mail,
snail mail, and published
materials. Most everything
I use has no author attached
to it, but I do save all my
sources for future reference.
Some of them sit around for
some time before I use them.
Then suddenly they seem to
fit the thought of my column
perfectly.
I received a story the
other day that made another
story stand out, and I
thought it appropriate to use
them together. They are love
stories, one for the body and
one for the soul. They are
rather lengthy, so we’ll share
one this week and the other
next week.
A nurse took the tired,
anxious serviceman to the
bedside. “Your son is here,”
she said to the old man. She
repeated her statement several
times before the patient’s
eyes opened. Heavily sedated
because of the pain of his
heart attack, he dimly saw
the young uniformed Marine
standing outside the oxygen
tent. Reaching out his hand,
the Marine wrapped his
toughened fingers around
the old man’s limp ones,
squeezing a message of love
and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair
so the Marine could sit beside
the bed. All through the
night, the Marine sat there
in the dimly lit ward, holding
the old man’s hand and
On The
Road To
Forever
By Thomas W.
Bonham
offering words of love and
strength. Occasionally, the
nurse suggested the Marine
move away and rest awhile,
but he refused.
Whenever the nurses
would come and go, the
Marine was oblivious to
their presence. The noises of
the hospital — the clanking
of oxygen tanks, the laughter
of the night staff as they
greeted one another, the cries
and moans of other nearby
patients — did not move
him. Now and then, the nurse
heard him say a few gentle
words; the dying man said
nothing, only held tightly to
his son all through the night.
Towards dawn, the old
man died. The Marine released
the now lifeless hand
he had been holding and
went to tell the nurse. While
she did what she had to do,
he waited.
When she returned, she
started to offer words of
sympathy, but the Marine interrupted
her. “Who was that
man” he asked. Startled, the
nurse said, “I thought he was
your father!”
“No, he wasn’t,” the
Marine replied. “I’ve never
seen him before in my life.”
“Why didn’t you say something
when I took you to
him” inquired the nurse.
“I knew right away there
had been a mistake, but I also
knew he needed his son, but
his son wasn’t here. When I
realized he was too sick to
tell whether I was his son or
not, and knowing how much
he needed me, I stayed. I
came here last night looking
for a Mr. William Gray. His
son has been killed in Iraq,
and I have been sent to inform
him.”
The eyes of the nurse
filled with tears as she replied,
“The man whose hand
you held and comforted all
night is Mr. William Gray.”
(Acts 17:22-28) Paul was
speaking to a group of Greek
philosophers about their concept
of “the Unknown God.”
He told them that all things
came from God and that
God is not served by human
hands or in need of anything,
“ ... because he himself gives
all men life and breath and
everything else.” “... and he
determined the times set for
them and the exact places
where they should live.”
As an earthly father determines
what is best for his
family and moves to locations
that will most benefit
the family, so God directs us
to places where we will seek
and serve Him to the benefit
of others, in His name.
Like the Marine, we all
have physical responsibilities.
I have learned to let God
sidetrack me, because when
He directs my footsteps, I receive
a physical and spiritual
reward. Plus, the task at hand
gets completed in a better
way than my way.
Thomas W. Bonham is an
associate minister with the
Floresville Church of Christ.
His e-mail is twbonham@
felpsis.net. Find his column
on his blog at http://wilsoncountynews.com.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - Wilson County News ■ 5B
Lions' PET
COURTESY PHOTO
Lions Club members Sam Pantusa (left) and
Sid Martin show off a PET — Personal Energy
Transportation — to members of the Floresville
Lions Club during their March 11 meeting at Jack's
Café. A PET is a three-wheeled, off-road wheelchair
operated by hand power, with wide rubber tires that
will travel over rough, unimproved terrain. PETs are
delivered at no cost to people in developing countries
who have lost the use of their legs — many by stepping
on land mines, some because of polio or birth
defects. Raising funds to produce and distribute
PETs is a project of Lions International.
New Lions
n COMMUNITY BRIEFS
Assistance for
veterans
Many veterans feel confused
about benefits and services
they’ve earned. The DAV
Mobile Service Office will
offer assistance in Seguin
Wednesday, March 24, from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the DAV
Chapter Home, 425 Vaughn
St.
The DAV is a nonprofit
organization offering free
counseling and claim filing
assistance to veterans and
their family members.
For more information,
call NSO Thomas J. Kickler
at 210-699-5064.
COURTESY PHOTO
Lions Club member LaJuana Newnam-Leus (from
left) inducts new members Steve Smith, Rose Labus,
and Olga Silva into the Floresville Lions Club during
the club's Feb. 18 meeting held in the Trail Riders
Steak House in Floresville.
Wilson County
Food Fair set
The Food Pantry Poth
Area will conduct a Wilson
County Food Fair Tuesday,
March 30, from 9:30-11:30
a.m. in the Poth City Park’s
parking lot for the baseball
field.
Food and food products
will be distributed to help
qualified families in need.
To pre-qualify, a voucher
must be completed, and eligibility
requirements must
be met. The Poth food pantry
is a proud partner with
the San Antonio Food Bank.
For more information,
call 830-484-2324 or 210-
393-9003. For information
about the San Antonio Food
Bank, visit http://safoodbank.org.
Deployment
2/ $ 3 pints
Pork
Budweiser, Bud Light
Big Red Products
B&J Wine
or Select
Coolers
2/ $ 8
2/ $ 8 4 pk. 12 pk.
Keg Beer • Party Trays
La Vernia
830-779-2691
Mon.-Sat. 7:30 am-7 pm;
www.baumannssupermarket.com
Sunday 9 am-3 pm
Lone Star Cards accepted • Major Credit & Debit cards accepted
Lucky winner
Kimberly Phillips of San Antonio is the happy winner
of a "Meet and Greet George Strait" at his team roping
classic at the Rose Palace. Alan Rivera of Hill Country
Tractor congratulates Kimberly at the open house held
at West Feeds on Hwy 181. She was one of 50 finalists
entered in the contest sponsored by Kioti Tractors.
WCN/PAM SMITH • Reprints at wilsoncountynews.com
East Central class
reunions planned
The East Central High School
class of 1960 and class of
1962 are planning their reunions
in April.
The class of 1962 will
hold a reunion Saturday, April
17, starting at 4 p.m. in the
home of Albert and Mildred
Mihalski at 6345 F.M. 3465
in Adkins. A barbecue meal
will be served. There will be
no charge, but donations are
welcome. To update contact
information and make reservations,
call Molly Butcher
at 210-490-4007.
The East Central High
School Class of 1960
Reunion Committee is planning
a 50-year class reunion
on Saturday, April 24, from
4-10:30 p.m. in the American
Legion Post 375, 9608 S.
Presa (Spur 122) in San
Antonio.
The evening will include
a meal, entertainment, and
dancing. Class members who
have not been contacted by the
committee should call Eddie
Stolowski at 210-667-1018.
Want to be a STARS
community partner
Call Johnny Hewell
at 830-393-5762.
Substance-abuse
group plans forum
The South Texas Regional
Texans Standing Tall coalition
is planning a forum
to prevent youth substance
abuse Friday, March 26,
from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
in the Education Service
Center, Region 20 building,
located at 1314 Hines Ave.
in San Antonio.
The cost is $25.
Participants will receive information
and resources to
prevent youth substance use.
Resource materials will be
provided, as well as a continental
breakfast, lunch, and
afternoon snack.
WE NEED:
Pots (any size) AND
(empty) Molasses Tubs
The Prevention Resource
Center, part of this coalition,
serves Wilson, Bexar, and
26 other counties to aid in
prevention and awareness of
youth substance abuse. The
center offers free resources
and educational material
to schools and community
groups. E-mail asalazar@sacada.org
for more information.
For more information,
visit http://www.texansstandingtall.org
or contact
Vickie B. Adams at 210-
225-4741 or coalition@sacada.org.
EC 4-H Club
rabies clinic set
A rabies clinic, hosted by
the East Central 4-H Club
of San Antonio, will be held
Saturday, March 27, from coping course
8 a.m. until noon in the The San Antonio Area
Knights of Columbus Hall Chapter of the American
located at 5731 Rigsby in Red Cross will offer a Watch for the
San Antonio.
course to assist military
Dr. Sells of the County families with deployment
WCN’s
Line Animal Hospital will issues Monday, March
administer the rabies shots
Bridal section
22, from 10 a.m. to noon
Coming April 7 in the Wilson County News!
for $8 per cat or dog. Other in the Red Cross office at coming March 31!
vaccinations will be available.
Antonio.
Fort Sam Houston in San
For more information, Offered free of charge,
call 210-648-7121.
the class is open only to
military family members of S.T.A.R.S. Service Learning Program says
Railroad society active duty, Reserve, and
National Guard forces, as
to meet
THANK YOU...
well as veterans and their
The Wilson County Model families. The Red Cross
Railroad Society will hold office is in Building 2650
its next meeting in Adkins at the corner of Patch and
on Thursday, March 18, at Harney streets. Anyone
6 p.m.
without a pass to get on to the Floresville and surrounding area communities, for all
Anyone interested in base must show a driver
railroading is welcome to license and a copy of valid your continued support in the 4th Annual Wilson County
attend.
auto insurance. The Walters
For directions and inforation,
call Jim Chatham at entrance into Fort Sam
Street entrance is the only
Gardening Day and the S.T.A.R.S. Plant Sale!
30-947-0204.
Houston for civilians.
Visit http://www.saredcross.org
to register for the
A special thanks to
wilsoncountynews.com class or call Mary Moore at
210-582-1902.
San Antonio Water System,
Find more specials at Doritos
Wilson County News, and KLUP 930 FM
YOUR HOMETOWN
2/
market
$ 6
for their continued support
Reg. $3.99
and for believing in
Blue
Beef Boneless $3.89 lb.
Bell
Sirloin Steak
the Service Learning program and
Country Style Ribs$1.49 lb.
the importance of Character Education.
18 pks. $ 13 99
the
17” Flat Panel
Monitors
on Sale Now!
Store
1601 Standish, (Near Bealls) Floresville • 210-980-9262
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