Dear Editor,
We have often heard, “God only gives you what you can handle.” With no gripes, it seems as though lately there has been a copious amount of His giving on my plate. Beginning in January, heart stents, then February heart bypass, then closure failure, then osteomyelitis, blood pressure issues and heart failure. I express this only to explain the reasons for spending four, of the past six, months in the hospital. From what was supposed to be a week in the hospital, at one juncture it was 2/12 months and then went back in 2 weeks later.
In the intervening days and seemingly endless weeks, I have been entirely reliant upon my friends and neighbors for support. I shall long remember pulling up to the house, seeing the immaculate condition and hearing about the neighbors fighting over who gets to cut the lawn. The plants on the porch were thriving, the interior of my home was immaculate, mail collected and bills paid. Even with the pandemic, good friends dropped off essentials to the hospitals; even though they could not visit.
I do not quite know what has given these fine folks the patience to put up with this most underserving wretch. What I do know is the unique people who surround me, Picayune’s truly gracious “attitude” towards others, and our Creator’s personal design. If there was any doubt, this experience is why Picayune is my solid choice to call “home.”
My unending gratitude to all of those who came to my aid, sent cards and called, over these may days.

Fr. Jonathan J. Filkins