Senate Sketches # 1017
NOTE: Sen. Hank Sanders has written a weekly column for papers in his legislative district for the past twenty years. These rural, weekly papers lack a web presence, and therefore a link to the publication is not available. The column below is provided by Sen. Sanders’ office for inclusion in the Daily News Digest.
Senate Sketches # 1017
By
Senator Hank Sanders
**************
“Whatever you count, that’s what you will have the most of. You may as well count your blessings.” These were the oft-repeated words of my now deceased mother. I now know what she meant in a way I did not know as a child.
As I shared in various Thanksgiving gatherings, feelings of thankfulness overwhelmed me, flowing over, in, out and around me. I could not help but count my blessings.
I count my mother and father who conceived, birthed and nourished me. They provided for me, protected me and helped me to grow strong. They are my deepest roots – my tap roots. Without them I would not be here. Without them I would not stand on such a strong foundation reaching higher and seeing farther. I am thankful to Ola Mae and Sam Sanders.
I count my nuclear family – my wife, three children by birth and four by foster relationship. They support me when the load weighs heavily. They protect me when the storm winds rage. Their roots are interlocked with my roots, making each of us stronger. I am thankful to Faya Rose, Malika, Kindaka, Ainka, Maurice, Charles, Rosie and Jennifer.
I count my blood family – my 12 brothers and sisters (two are deceased), my aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews. I count my brothers and sisters who grew up with me, challenged me to be my best and are there for me in times of need. I count my Aunt Catherine for helping me to grow out of my meanness by providing critical family history early in life and sharing her home in New York for several years when I was a young adult. I also count my mother-by-marriage, my sisters-and-brothers-by-marriage and their descendants. I am thankful to each.
I count my Law Firm Family, who has made it possible for me to do so much. For 35 years, J.L. Chestnut, Jr. and Faya Rose and I have weathered storms, forged successes and shared lives. Now, other partners such as Collins Pettaway, Jr, Katy Campbell amd Kindaka Sanders stand with us weathering storms and forging successes. I am thankful to all who make up this unique institution including but not limited to Barnette Hayes and Josephine Curtis and Gloria Pompey and Edna Bryant.
I count my Alabama New South Coalition and 21st Century Youth Leadership families, who have fought side by side with me for what will soon be 21 years. When I am under severe attack, they come from near and far, joining arms and hands in circles of protection. They make me secure. They make me proud. They are too numerous to name, but at the risk of doing damage to those unnamed, I am especially thankful to Carol P. Zippert, Barbara Pitts, Roberta and Roger Watts, Judy Cumbee, Norma Jackson, Ted Quant, and others.
I count my Community Family, who labors with me in the field of struggle to build institutions, organizations and entities to lift those who are down, steady those who are falling and open doors for those locked out. I am thankful for they are many, scattered over the Black Belt, throughout Alabama, across this country and around the world.
I count my Church Family, who regularly prays for me and stand with me in times of great challenges. We share a religious journey that takes us closer to God. I am thankful to Calvary Baptist Church, Pastor Dr. C.A. Lett, each church member, my Sunday School Class and my special ladies who have lived long and not so long.
I count my Legislative Family. Some Senators have been with me the entire 23 years I have served in the Alabama Senate. Others have come and gone. Still others came later and still serve. Some are close and others not so close. Many are not legislators but work for, with, or around the Alabama Legislature. They are far too numerous to name, but I must specifically count Sharon Calhoun, Ola Morrow, Khadijah Ishaq, Joyce Bigbee, Norris Green and Sharon Wheeler, who assist me almost on a daily basis.
I truly count my Family of Friends, many of which fall within one of these families I have counted. They are there for me beyond the organization or group, beyond the moment. I am thankful that each is my friend. I am also thankful that I am a friend to each.
Last, but certainly not least (first in fact), I count God, whose dimensions I do not perceive and cannot conceive, who is so powerful and yet so loving, who demands so much of us but gives so much more. I am thankful to God from which every blessing flow. All I have to do is count.
Now on to the Daily Diary.
Saturday – I participated in an Alabama New South Coalition Board meeting and talked with various leaders. I traveled to Lowndes and Montgomery for meetings before returning to Selma to work into the night.
Sunday – I did Radio Sunday School , Radio Education and Sunday Review. I participated in Sunday School before traveling to Tuskegee for a Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) Retreat. I participated in several retreat sessions, talked with leaders such as George McMillan and Dr. Carol P. Zippert and worked on Sketches.
Monday – I continued with the Retreat in Tuskegee. I also participated in a BBCF Annual meeting before returning to Selma. I talked to various leaders including Julian Smith of Alabama Power; Felecia Jones of the BBCF; and Norma Jackson of 21st Century Youth Leadership Movement. I also worked on Sketches before returning to Selma to work into the night.
Tuesday – I handled many matters before traveling to Montgomery for Senate Black Caucus and Senate Democratic Caucus meetings. I talked to many leaders including Senators Linda Coleman, Vivian Davis Figures, Rodger Smitherman, and Roger Bedford. I returned to Selma and traveled to Greene County where I talked with several education leaders, visited the Greene County Democrat newspaper and returned to Selma. I also talked to others including David Butts of the Lowndes County Commission and Ginger Avery Buckner of the Alabama Trial Lawyer Association.
Wednesday – I talked with various leaders including Senator Zeb Little; Dr. Paul Hubbert of the Alabama Education Association (AEA); Dr. Carol P. Zippert; Senator E.B. McClain; Chris Barrineau of the Senate Democratic Caucus; and Julian Smith and Harry Wormley of Alabama Power. I worked into the night.
Thursday – I took the morning for myself to read and relax. I then traveled to West Blocton for a gathering of my Brothers and Sisters and our descendents. It was a time to be thankful. I traveled on to Birmingham to visit my mother-by-marriage who was shifted from intensive care to a regular hospital room. I was pained to learn that Lieutenant Governor Lucy Baxley had a mild stroke. My prayers continue to be with her. I returned to Selma.
Friday – I returned to West Blocton for Day After Thanksgiving breakfast with my blood family. I then traveled to Midfield, Birmingham, Vestavia Hills, back to Birmingham and on to Selma. I talked with a number of leaders. I worked into the night.
EPILOGUE – Thankfulness is a wonderful feeling that extends our days, rewards our lives and helps us to appreciate and be appreciated. Counting our blessings always makes us thankful.
Index of Sanders' Senate Sketches
