Iconic Mississippi writer and editor, Marshall Ramsey, recently made a heartwarming (and totally accurate) social media post about one of the innate superpowers that we possess as Mississippians.
My stoic husband laughed out loud and practically shouted in agreement, when he read Mr. Ramsey’s description of the Mississippi “cornbread and casserole” brigade that quickly appears on scene to fix things and feed neighbors, immediately following all disasters.
After our shared laughter subsided a bit, my husband then said sincerely, “That’s what you need to write about for Our Mississippi Home, Joy. Write about the “cornbread and casserole” brigade that helped us this week.”
So, here I am, blessed to be able to shout from the beautiful, icy fields of Union County that because of the tireless, continuous (and dangerous) work of our superhero lineman, “We have lights … and water and everything else that we had lacked in the past six days.”
But the truth is, we really lacked nothing during this storm and its aftermath – because of our neighbors.
I shall borrow a bit of Mr. Ramsey’s terminology and call them our chainsaw and tater soup brigade. Because, yes, our neighbors checked on us, and they offered groceries, water, and warm beds. They brought us food (some delicious homemade potato soup and cornbread, to be exact) and gasoline for our brand-new generator. But these precious neighbors of ours were not alone in their care and concern for us and for everyone else in our small community.
Our local churches opened their doors as warming spots; they literally left the doors open at all hours – just in case. They made huge pots of soup and other goodies each night for those who could make it up to the church to eat, and they carried the warm food to those who could not get out and about.
Plus, local businesses went above and beyond the norm to help folks in this time of trouble. Locally, our sweet dollar-store manager and her employees, all of whom had their own families and homes to care for during this icy time, made their way to the store, to open each day for a few hours (as the freezing temps would allow) to offer any remaining supplies to their needy neighbors.
But for my husband and me, it was the sight of five grown men and their chainsaws pulling up in our icy driveway that did me in emotionally. It was more than a chainsaw brigade; it was an army of loving men who had worked alongside our late son, Chris Lucius, as his fellow coaches and teachers.
Their work was an instant reminder of their love for him and their subsequent love for us.
Here is how I described this precious, unforgettable experience on my personal social media page:
I watched as 5 grown men from East Union High School (men who diligently coach and train our student athletes) showed up and worked voluntarily to clear our land of downed limbs and trees today. Each of those men was dearly loved by Coach Chris Lucius, and as I cried and watched them work, it was like God sent us a great big heavenly hug from our boy today – a hug wrapped up in the hard work of 5 men who loved us in his honor. What a blessing!!!
And what a blessing to live in this community of Blue Springs, in our beloved state of Mississippi. For no matter what happens, be it ice storms, floods, tornadoes, or even the death of a loved one, our neighbors will never let us walk the hard roads alone.
But here’s a gentle reminder for us all: To have a neighbor, we also must be a neighbor.
So, when the electricity comes back on, turn on the stove and make someone else a pot of tater soup … or a good ol’ casserole. Carry your unneeded generator down the road for someone else to use. While you are out, grab a case of water for your neighbors. Check on those single moms and the elderly around you … and crank up your chainsaw and clean up the yards of those same neighbors who cannot do it for themselves.
Most importantly, never forget that we really are all neighbors, and at some point, each of us will need a neighbor to reach out and help us in a time of trouble.
So, just be a neighbor, and thank God for our neighbors. And remember, that neighborly spirit is exactly why Mississippi is and always will be The Hospitality State.
*All photos are credited to Joy Lucius
