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Burglary dampens my friend’s holiday spirit
Published December 19, 2009
The Christmas story is told in the New Testament, although Jesus Christ’s birth is prophesied in the Old Testament.
Thursday afternoon, I couldn’t help but wish for some Old Testament retribution on the thief, or thieves, who broke into my co-worker Debra Hedgepath’s home in Boaz and stole televisions, jewelry and other items.
Deb didn’t lose her Christmas presents, because she’s a last-minute shopper and hadn’t bought any gifts yet.
Deb-O discovered the break-in when she arrived home for lunch around 12:45 Thursday afternoon and called the Boaz Police Department.
After Deb called the office and shared her bad news, I decided to go check on her.
When I entered Deb’s home, she told me to look at how the burglar, or burglars, had ransacked her possessions.
I didn’t let Deb know, but it angered me when I saw what had happened.
It also caused me to flashback to my childhood and remember when my family’s home was burglarized when I was a fifth-grader. We were at church when the night-time robbery took place.
The person, or persons, who broke into Deb’s home was bold, because the crime occurred in “broad open daylight,” to use a term I learned when I was growing up.
I hate to say I’m not surprised. Criminals no longer wait for the cover of darkness to perpetrate their evil deeds.
When persons have no respect for God and no respect for themselves, then how can we expect them to have respect for others?
Deb’s brother, George Hedgepath, came to check on his sister.
Deb-O cried as she shared with George about some family heirlooms that were taken, those items that can’t be replaced like a television or other electronic devices.
If the thieves who burglarized Deb’s home needed money to buy food or Christmas presents for their family, Deb would’ve given them some cash.
Deb’s heart is as big as Boaz when it comes to having compassion for those in need.
I posted something on my Facebook page, asking my friends to pray for Deb. I’m asking you to please do the same.
Friend me on Facebook
About two months ago, I took the plunge and created a Facebook page.
If I had $5 for every person who told me I needed a Facebook page before I created mine, I could’ve bought Christmas gifts for half the population of Sand Mountain.
I’ve been able to reconnect with some friends and former co-workers I haven’t seen in a while, as well as keep up with extended family members who are scattered around the country.
One of my friends is my first-grade teacher, Gayle Eason, and I think that’s pretty cool.
Mrs. Eason shaped my life more than I realized back then, and I appreciate all she did for me.
Our managing editor, Melissa Cosper, helped me create a Facebook page for The Sand Mountain Reporter Sports, which had 284 friends the last time I checked.
Melissa also showed me how to link the Facebook page to The Reporter’s Twitter page for sports.
I don’t consider myself a Facebook junkie, but I do enjoy it and I’m glad I joined.
Shannon J. Allen is sports editor of The Sand Mountain Reporter. He can be contacted at sports(at)sandmountainreporter.com.
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