I was fortunate to grow up in a tiny Mississippi town called Duck Hill. It was named for a Choctaw Chief and medicine man named Duck. As you enter town on U. S. Highway 51, you’re greeted by a sizable hill that some referred to as Duck Hill Mountain.
We had our Mayberry moments. When business was slow, the two guys who worked at the post office sat out front playing checkers. I love small towns.
Life inched along at an unhurried pace in Duck Hill. I remember driving down Carrollton Street and being forced to make a detour to bypass a dog that was asleep in the middle of the road – he wasn’t budging.
The most excitement I ever witnessed was when the girls’ basketball team returned from winning the overall state championship late one night in the 1970s. They were welcomed home by honking horns and a blaring siren. State championships were a big deal where I came from, as you might expect.
As I recall, law enforcement was near non-existent. After dark, there was one officer who stood guard over the town. He was usually found in his car parked in front of city hall, between the barbershop and Beulah’s Cafe. Night after night, his presence sent a clear message to would-be criminals that there were laws in place, and he was awake to enforce them. I’m thankful he was there.
[F]or he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer (Romans 13:4).
Fast forward a few years to a much larger town. It was bitterly cold and snowing. My wife and our expectant daughter were traveling down Highway 370 when they heard an alarming noise…a flat tire. Neither of them was prepared to change a flat. That’s why they were beyond grateful when a deputy from the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Department pulled up behind them and volunteered to change their tire. What a kindness.
And then there was the time I was with my son and was driving down West Jackson Street in my little Toyota pickup. I glanced in the rearview mirror and there they were – those dreaded blue lights. A lot can race through your mind when that happens. Speeding? Ran a stop sign? That gum I stuck under my desk in the 6th grade? Thankfully, none of those was the case.
The police officer had good news for me. After he checked my driver's license, he told me that he saw my wheel cover fall off and roll into a yard a few houses back. I thanked him, my heart rate returned to normal, and I circled back to capture the runaway wheel cover. You know the officer didn’t have to take the time to tell me about my wheel cover, but he did, and I haven’t forgotten it.
Those accounts of kindness probably don’t come as a gigantic surprise to you. I’m guessing you’ve got a story about the instance someone in law enforcement went out of their way to help you. I’m confident that it happens across America every day and into the night.
Yes, some people in law enforcement have done wrong, and they need to be held accountable for what they did. But thankfully, they are the exception to the rule. I believe that most people in law enforcement are decent men and women, who are dedicated public servants. They are good people who have earned our support.
Day of Prayer and Appreciation for Law Enforcement
If you receive AFA Action Alerts, you’re aware of the announcement from American Family Association President Tim Wildmon regarding the upcoming time of prayer and appreciation for our heroes in law enforcement. American Family Association is challenging churches to designate Sunday, June 13th as a Day of Prayer and Appreciation for Law Enforcement.
I hope you’ll consider joining the thousands of Americans who have stepped up to say, “Yes, I will pray!” You can do that here.
