Homeownership Doesn’t Come Free
Most of you, if not all of you, reading this will remember 9/11 for the rest of your lives. You will remember where you were when you heard the news and that your hearts stopped at that moment in time.
Most of this article was written and submitted in the last couple of years. Each year as I start to rewrite, I recognize some updates are needed. The reason we are still coming together has not changed, but has become more important each and every day.
With 9/11 coming up, we are reminded of our freedom and what that cost. This is a time to honor those that serve our country and those that have lost their lives for our country and for our freedom. This includes those serving in all branches of the Military, First Responders, Fire Fighters, EMT’s, Paramedics, Law Enforcement and all those that step in at the time of need and emergency.
In the USA, we are fortunate to have so many choices and opportunities for homeownership. This isn’t the case everywhere. In addition, we take pride in our country, cities and small towns. Our government has loan opportunities for teachers, police force, military and many others in addition to providing loans that work with low income qualifiers or ones that qualify for a loan, but don’t have much down payment. We are blessed to have the opportunities that other countries don’t. But it isn’t free and we need to remember what our country felt on 9/11 and where we have come from there. What happened on that day not only affects the “big picture” of our country, but especially the “smaller picture”.
We are the “smaller picture” in the way that we are the individuals and families in the small towns that feel the effects, the heart ache and the fear that goes along with an attack on our country and our people. And just when we think we are further away from 9/11/01, an attack on 7/16/15 happens in our own neighbors’ backyard, Chattanooga. And then just recently, our own country is fighting itself politically and racially.
So what do we do, we come together and become stronger! We take pride in our communities, our neighborhoods, we pray together, sit together and do what a community does… support one another. This is what one of the biggest benefits of homeownership is about. We are planting our roots, becoming one community, one extended family, loving and supporting each other in the easy and hard times. As Chattanooga stated in 2016, “NOOGA STRONG”, that is what we need to become.
A community event that was started 5 years ago will be held on September 11th at the Walker County Civic Center. It is an event that sets aside all political differences, team rivalries, city borders, religious denominations and comes together as one community to pray for our military, our families, students and our country. This is what it means to love your neighbor as yourself, Matthew 19:19, James 2:8. We become one community, love our neighbors, pray for our neighbors and honor those that protect us.
We are blessed to be able to hear from these men and women that serve and protect us on a daily basis. They keep our communities and our country safe. Let’s come together in time of fellowship and prayer for all those that serve, protect and fight for us and our freedom. Each city in Walker County will be represented along with our County at this year’s 9/11 event Walker County Cities On Our Knees. Please join us to hear the stories and prayers of our own citizens of Walker County.
E Pluribus Unum included in the Great Seal of the United States, being one of the nation’s mottos at the time of the seal’s creation means, Out of many, one. That is my personal prayer for our county, our state and our communities within Walker County, that out of many individuals we come together and are united as one! One People, One Walker County, One County!
Article written and submitted by Lisa J Heyer, Better Home and Gardens Jackson Realty Broker/ Owner