Every Single Person

Lately I’ve been seeing and hearing articles about lives that matter - police lives, black lives, road workers’ lives, medical responder lives - even a picture of a small girl with “My Life Matters” written on her hand.

Why does it suddenly seem necessary to say people’s lives in this group or that group matter?

Don’t all lives matter? Absolutely. There should not be any distinction about whose lives matter.

What does matter is how we are living our lives. Taking care of our families, giving everyone respect, not judging others, helping people through rough spots, sharing our talents and abundance, showing kindness - these ways of living a life are what we should be concentrating on.

You and your life - your feelings, hopes, dreams, voice, thoughts, ideas, beliefs, goals, accomplishments - matters. And so does the life of every single person on this earth.

The next few days in our area will be an exciting time.

Youth who are 4-H and FFA members will have on display what they’ve been working on since last summer. The ones who have livestock as a project will be nervous and excited as they parade their animals around the show ring vying for a ribbon and later on hoping for a good sale.

Squeals of laughter from young children on the carnival rides, cheers for rodeo contestants, and the sound of engines at the derby, will fill the air.

The fragrance of hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn and cotton candy will tantalize everyone at the fair.

And all who have entered their handmade creations, prize photos, art work, crafts, samples of their cooking skills will be checking to see if they’ve won a prize or the coveted sweepstakes ribbon.

Fair time - a time of sunshine, visiting, laughter, excitement, and new memories to be made - a time to be enjoyed and treasured.