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I don't know about you, but this has been a very difficult week. The war that has been ongoing for a week now between Israel and the Palestinian terrorists has dominated our thoughts, our visuals on the TV and our prayers in church and synagogues throughout this country.
Not since I was a child and saw the nightly news flashes from the Vietnam War have I been so disturbed by the scenes playing out in the Middle East. The brutality and heinous acts of the terrorists are something not seen before by current generations.
It has been compared to our Sept. 11 terror attacks. As such, we lost thousands.
Yet we did not suffer beheading of babies or mutilating elderly and helpless children.
There are not enough words in any language to describe this evil behavior.
In light of all of this, I have not lost sight of our own country's problems and humanitarian issues.
We still have so much discord in the United States. Gas prices are climbing again. The price of ground beef has put us in sticker shock mode. Crime in many areas of the country is escalating.
And now our freedom of speech has given voice to both supporters of Israel and haters of that nation as well.
So as I sat to write this column, I searched for a bright moment to share with you. And that came from an elderly reader who told of an experience that restored her faith in her fellow man.
While shopping at Riesbeck's recently, the woman was at the deli counter to order a modest amount of lunch meat.
She commented to another shopper that she really had to watch her spending due to rising prices. It was just a simple statement, but it touched the other shopper.
When the older woman went to the checkout, the second shopper gave her a $20 gift card.
It was a simple act of kindness extended to a very appreciative recipient. With tears in her eyes, the woman expressed her thanks to this generous soul.
"I was at a loss for words, but in between the tears, I did manage to tell her 'God bless you,' and we hugged. Thinking about it I still get teary as I am so grateful for her kindness, and this blessing came at the right time."
In light of this latest war in the Mideast, it's clear that in the weeks, months and years to come, we all will have opportunities and the need to be good Samaritans in one way or another.
Heather Ziegler can be reached via email at Ziegler@theintelligencer.net.