Saving Grace

Many months ago, a kind gentleman came to our rescue here at the Journal Record and was able to make our “older technology-type” phone system work when it failed on us.
It probably helped that this was the same gentleman who’d installed the system decades ago (I won’t say how many). The system is Northstar.
I’ve worked in other offices with this same phone system, and when there were problems, we were told there was nothing we could do.
This gentleman had no problem at all updating our system with one piece of equipment. He then went around and checked each phone in our office directly to ensure they were working properly.
And he was kind. Kind means a lot to me. Most of us have to work. Most of us have to engage with others during our work days or situations before or after those days or during regular ongoing life events, such as going to the grocery store, going through a drive-through or eating out with family or friends.
When people are kind, it stays in your mind. Everyone (me included) seems so rushed and bothered these days. I try my best to never get too busy to be kind.
Anyways, that’s enough about me. I wanted to write this column to say thank you to this gentleman, Jimmy Chaffin, for restoring our phone system.
He can help you, too, if your phone system is a little older. You can call him at 205-412-2824. He also installs security cameras. Thank you, Mr. Chaffin, for helping us in our time of need and being so enjoyable while you went about your duties.
Jimmy told me he’d also recently upgraded the phone system, along with addressing a few other needs, at the Northwest Alabamian office after the September fire at their location.
Another gentleman who answered a call for help this year was Robert Kelly. Our air conditioner went out three times this summer. I’d met Robert when I took his photo years ago for a story on Bevill State Community College-Hamilton’s HVAC program.
Like many others do, we’d say howdy when we ran into each other at Walmart.
He was my first thought and my first call when the AC quit on a hot summer day. Unbelievably, he walked in the front door of the Journal Record within 15 minutes of me reaching out.
It didn’t take him too long to fix the problem--it was a broken connector. For less than $200, we had cool breezes blowing again. You truly never miss what you have until it’s gone... We were ALL grateful to have the AC repaired!
Unfortunately, about a week after that, on a Monday, we came in and the AC had quit again. Another call to Robert and another quick response. It was the connector again. Some type of insect, possibly an ant, had decided the spot between the connector connections was a great location to be in. Not really, though, because when the connectors connected again, there was a sizzle and bye-bye insect.
After this happened again a few weeks later, we made a two-fold plan to deter the problem, one of which was to surround the air conditioning unit with salt. Ants don’t cross salt picket lines. And instead of turning the unit on and off each day, we pushed the thermostat up so the unit would turn on and off automatically. So far, this has worked.
Thank you, Mr. Kelly for being so kind (and cool) while you were working on our cooling system again and again. You are a good man to know!
If you need some HVAC help, you can call Robert at 205-495-1613.
Another gentleman who saved us (me especially) out of “quite a pickle” lately was Tommy Bowen of Bowen Funeral Home. We were working on deadline on our special Mule Day 50th edition when our contact number for Winfield Monument Company did not work. The company had not yet closed for the day, but we couldn’t get through.
We had the ad finished, we had to get the section to the printer and we needed a nod of approval urgently. Who might know how to get ahold of Mr. Sidney Gilbert after hours? As always, our Good Lord was looking out for us and Tommy came to mind.
I called the funeral home, and the very nice lady, Shana, said she’d take the message, but that Tommy had a funeral starting directly. I said, “Whatever he can do to help, we would appreciate it.”
About 30 minutes later, Mr. Sidney called. We were able to text him a photo of his ad, he approved it and we concluded the section. Mr. Sidney was very kind. During our conversation, I told him I’d tried to track him down through Tommy. He acknowledged that Tommy had called him.
We are so grateful to Mr. Bowen for his kind favor. I called the funeral home office the next day and told Shana I owed him one. Thank you, Tommy, for helping me out of a very tight spot!
I had no idea when I tried to help our ad manager, the Marvelous Marcy, that we’d need cell phone numbers! Live and learn... I’m not sure how I’ll return Tommy’s favor, but I won’t forget. The phone number for Bowen Funeral Home is 205-487-4327.
Maybe somebody will see this column and be able to pass along a kindness to Tommy or another of these kind gentleman.
You never know. You might have a friend in need of help with an old(er) phone system or a HVAC unit, or you might run into somebody that needs to get ahold of somebody through somebody else... Pass along kindness, and it’s sure to make its way back around to your doorstep one day.
I am so thankful for kindness and grace--like our Good Lord bestows on us everyday. I am forever grateful for His Saving Grace. Just last week, I found five different references to grace in verses and devotionals I was reading. First, there was “Super Abounding Grace,” then “Divine Grace,” then “The Grace of the Lord Jesus,” then “the Spirit of Grace” and lastly, “Overflowing with Grace.”
Those all came to me when I needed them--not unlike all the helpful gentlemen in this column.
Grace--it’s new every single day. I’ve heard the Lord doesn’t provide it for regrets for yesterday or worries about tomorrow. But His grace is sufficient unto THIS day. Thank you, Lord. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (from Romans 1:17). To God Be The Glory!