Living in a world where the idea of goodwill toward men is hardly visible at Christmas time anymore, much less the rest of the year, it should warm our hearts to know that we live close to a town that embodies those three words year-round.
Welcome to Bethlehem, N.C. The little town, which straddles Catawba and Alexander counties, is featured in today's USA Weekend magazine inside the Hickory Daily Record. It's a well deserved honor, not just because its famous name or the time of year but because Bethlehem and its residents are truly special.
USA Weekend writer Dennis McCafferty spent several days this summer visiting Bethlehem and interviewing some of its residents for his article, months before most of us begin thinking about Christmas. What he learned was that folks here care a lot about each other and do a lot to help their neighbors no matter the time of year. He learned how residents keep food pantries and clothing drives going year-round to help people laid off from furniture or textile plants as unemployment in the area reaches 8.3 percent.
He watched as volunteers brought hope to the children of inmates in a nearby prison by providing a family meal, along with some needed joy and hope where none may exist. He heard the story of how the community came together to help a family whose son was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Bake sales and spaghetti dinners were held to raise money for the family. Churches from across the area donated time, money and prayer to the family. In the end, it wasn't enough. The boy died. His memory, however, lives today within the Bethlehem community.
McCafferty said, "I realize that the spirit of Bethlehem is not necessarily about Christmas … It's not really about the name either."
What he learned during his three-day stay in Bethlehem is that this town is about its people. "To celebrate the residents of Bethlehem is to celebrate the love of community that resonates so deeply within us all," McCafferty wrote.
So to the residents of Bethlehem we say thank you for offering a shining example of how life should be lived year-round, not just at Christmas.
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