City of Arnold Mayor's Prayer Breakfast Remarks
Thank you Mayor Counts for inviting me to your prayer breakfast this morning. It is an honor to be here on this beautiful morning. Thank you Police Chief Shockey, Fire Chief Broombaugh and Ambulance Chief Sammons for your service and devotion to the City of Arnold.
It was a privilege to stand with you last Sunday in the memorial garden as we remembered the victims of the attacks on September 11th. And today we rightly honor first responders whose heroic actions on September 11th saved countless lives, and those first responders in this community who put their lives on the line every day for our families.
When I met with Mayor Counts and other city leaders to tour the areas affected by the devastating flooding in early January, I was impressed with the coordination and proficiency of the crisis teams in Arnold.
But I was more impressed with how you treated one other. As neighbors. As friends and as a community. The true strength of a community is seen by the selfless acts of its citizens, and this City rose above this devastation, by loving each other…by praying together.
We learn in the Gospel of Mark the two most important Commandments. The first being, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12 30:31)
This community is a testament to these Commandments. Be faithful. Love God. Love one another. So simple, yet so difficult in a world that is increasingly divided, chaotic, and often overwhelmed by hate.
If you ask me, we need MORE faith, we need MORE prayer, MORE love for one another. And THIS community demonstrated last winter how it can come together in times of crisis.
We are part of a family on earth, but we are also part of a family and a kingdom of God and followers of Christ. We share with one another, pray together, pray for one another and support one another with love…unconditionally.
That’s what I am called to do. That’s what you are called to do. And that’s what we have done in this community.
That’s what you are called to do and what you have done in this community.
Thank you, again, for having me this morning. I am grateful every day that I have the privilege of representing the City of Arnold in Congress, and I am even more grateful to call you my neighbors and friends.
Thank you