If our mind is filled with a world of thoughts that are contrary or even dishonorable to God, how can there be room for us to concentrate on His goodness, peace and hope?

When Mary was about to give birth and there was no room at the inn, God was also allowing us to see that many people in this world have no room in their life for Jesus. Their heart and mind is filled with carnality, selfishness, arrogance and negative influences. This is why the enemy of our soul has created many obstacles and diversions for the purpose of redirecting our attention away from our Lord.

Secular reading material, video games, movies, cellphones and television are only a few distractions

These are stressful days. Some of us were living under tough circumstances in the best of times, and nowadays the daily news just ratchets it up.

There are two Department of Veterans Affairs smartphone apps that might be of help to you.

Tactical Breathing Trainer, or Tactical Breather: Created by the National Center for Telehealth & Technology, the phone app can teach you to get control over your responses to stress, both psychological or physiological. While initially created

One day a couple of weeks ago, my wife Kathy started shivering for no apparent reason.

She’s one of those people whose internal thermostat goes haywire once in a while, so I wasn’t overly concerned. Until she told me right before she went to sleep that for an instant she had the thought that she might not wake up in the morning.

She wasn’t interested in rushing off to the emergency room, though, so there didn’t seem to be anything I could do but pray and hope it wasn’t anything serious.

The next morning, her right leg was swollen up and red and

There have been major changes in the hen house since the rooster died. The hens have had to adjust to their new life without a dominant male figure, and it has been interesting to see the new pecking order.

Before the rooster gave up the ghost, he greeted each morning the same way. He’d greet the day from atop the hanging feeder.

He never missed a chance to greet the sun and alert us all to the news that morning had arrived. Again.

But now that he is gone, the hens have adjusted to their new world.

It took a while, but apparently there is now a new

Why vote for Alex Saitta?

Dear Editor,

Why vote for Alex Saitta? I have known Alex since he moved to Pickens. He has a genuine love and concern for the welfare of the people of Pickens County.

Alex fought to keep our small schools open and voted against their closing. Anyone who says any different is a liar.

He has the financial expertise required for this job. The other candidates do not.

Alex is a Christian and a kind, caring man with good moral character, which is very important as

While it was more than 20 years ago, I remember that day like it was yesterday.

That was the day I received my license to be a registered nurse. I still remember the whirlwind of feelings I experienced as I first held my license in my hands. On that day, I felt relief and pride for having completed a long academic journey. But I also felt the weight of the awesome responsibility to my patients and my profession that comes with being a registered nurse.

What’s why every year, as Nurses Week approaches, I try to remember how I felt that day and honor the commitment my colleagues and I have made to a profession that centers on helping others. Never has that commitment been more important than it is during this year’s Nursing Week, when nurses all

MARILYN SUE O’SHIELDS

SUNSET — Marilyn “Sue” O’Shields, 68, wife of Wayne Abner O’Shields, passed away on Sunday, May 17, 2020, at her home.

Sue O’Shields was the daughter of the late Ruth Ellen Coleman Morris and George Edward Morris. She was a member of East Pickens Baptist Church and was retired from Cornell Dubilier.

Survivors include her husband of 49 years, one daughter, Beth Marie White (Shawn) of Easley; one son, Marty Wayne O’Shields (Angel) of Pickens; and two sisters, Jennie Goff (Robert) of Pumpkintown and Ann Richards (Ed) of Greer. She also leaves six grandchildren, Dylan O’Shields,

A very long time ago, we went to see a movie that scared us all to death. That movie was Jaws, the story of a great white shark that terrorized beachgoers along the New England coast. Shortly after seeing this movie, we went on our scheduled beach vacation. That’s when I realized this movie had altered my confidence in how safe my children were in the ocean.

We all became more vigilant. The adults rotated, one always on duty when the children were in the water.

The ocean hadn’t changed, but our perception of possible danger in the ocean had.

In the movie, there is a scene where town leaders are

Backing Gravely in council race

Dear Editor,

We need more people who want to make a difference in Pickens working on behalf of Pickens, its past, present and future.

We need more people like Debbie Gravely in public office. I am not interested in who people from Easley or Liberty or Greenville or anywhere else are supporting for our District 3 seat on county council.

I am interested in a candidate whose goals are to support Pickens County in a positive manner; who

Uncle Walter had lived a full life before we children came into the picture.

We thought of him as our uncle — the one who drove the car, ran a truck farm, the gin and sent us on errands and assigned tasks.

Most of his instructions began with “Run in yonder and bring me my” cane, keys, etc. or “Run out yonder and get the” corn for supper, eggs, tomatoes, mail, etc.

We thought of him as old — almost ancient. But Uncle Walter had a life we knew nothing about as children. I suppose we thought, as children do, that noting much had happened before we were there, but that belief was shaken one summer day.

Grandmama wanted to clean out the attic. We were available, so up the ladder we went with