Heroes hear about the Golden Rule

During its 27th Annual Heroes Banquet on Thursday, March 14, the Coffee Baptist Association honored county first responders for their service with food and fellowship at Bethany Baptist Church.

Representatives for first responder organizations throughout the county were in attendance, including the Battens Volunteer Fire Department, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, the Enterprise Police Department, the Elba Police Department, the E-911 Board, the New Brockton Volunteer Fire Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Elba Work Release, the Coffee County EMA, the Ino Volunteer Fire Department, Pilchers Ambulance and Coffee County Constables.

Police and fire department chaplains, as well as a representative from Gideons International, also attended the event.

Dr. John Granger, who serves as the association’s director of missions, spoke about the history of the annual event before he focused on the Golden Rule and how county heroes follow that rule every time they help someone.

“There’s a difference in the culture about appreciating firemen, policemen and first responders now than there was last century,” he said. “I remember before 9/11 took place, there weren’t a whole lot of people trying to say thank you.

“But James Preachers… he and I talked, and we just said, ‘Hey. We ought to do something.’”

In the 27 years since that first event to thank those who serve others, he said the event has grown from recognizing just law enforcement to include any first responder organization.

“We’ve been doing it a long time, but I’m grateful that the culture’s changed a little bit so that you get recognition and appreciation in lots of places these days,” Granger said.

He thanked the first responders for their service, whether as support personnel, a paid first responder or one who volunteers to help others.

“Some of you do get paid, but a lot of what you do is not because you get paid,” he said. “It’s because that your heart is in it, and you’re trying to serve people.”

He referenced Mark 7:12, which he said is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The passage states: “Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

“I believe that what we ought to do, as members of the churches, if we’re going to follow Christ, is to give honor and respect and appreciation to people who serve us: you and others like you,” he said.

Granger said people sometimes forgets some of the good things that Jesus had to say in the Bible, including the Golden Rule to “do unto others as you would have them done unto you.”

“I believe that it is what God wants for his followers, but it’s also something good for all people. Everybody can benefit from following the Golden Rule.

“You as police officers, first responders, firefighters, you have special times where you can do it because a lot of times, you’re there at crucial, crisis moments, and little things that you do can make a big difference,” Granger said.

He said he hoped to remind those in attendance of just how much they should try to do good to others, especially when they do not respond or during difficult situations.

“There are times that you can be as good as you want to be, and people won’t respond to your love,” he said. “Most of the time, they will, and I believe we ought to (be good), though, even if they don’t.”

He said this was the idea behind Jesus’ words.

“It’s not, ‘You ought to do this as long as they respond back to you,’” he said. “It’s, ‘You ought to just do it.’ This is what he wants us to do. The likelihood is, you all deal with people that don’t look like they appreciate what you’re doing… at the time.”

Granger shared personal stories of times he tried to be good to others, and they did not respond to his kindness and love. He also shared stories of how a small act of kindness he experienced as a child while he was experiencing loss has echoed through his life.

He said he was in school as he learned his mother did not have long to live, and he was visibly upset in his chair. He said his teacher came to his seat and comforted him.

“She kneeled down, and she put her arm around me, and she said tender, loving, supportive kind of things,” he said. “Somehow, what she did made me feel like I wasn’t quite all alone, that somebody really cared and that there might be some light beyond that day.

“It wasn’t much, but to me, it was a big thing.”

He said this is the effect first responders can have on the lives of those they help.

“The thing is, you deal with people all the time who are in crisis situations, so a lot of the folks you deal with are just like I was,” he said. “They’re kind of at the end of their rope. They’re as far as they can go, and a lot of times, you just being there with a kind word and a loving hand, you trying to help them along in a difficult situation, it really does mean a lot.

“I’m already thankful for who you are and what you do.”