As a teenager, I had big dreams for life in the big
city. My plan was to be a journalist and
eventually an editor of a magazine for women.
I was going to be married to my job and enjoy all the things that city
life had to offer.
My, how things change.
On this lovely morning, I am on my porch drinking coffee,
watching the cows graze across the road.
This is a far cry from big city living, but I couldn’t be happier. Who knew living in a small town would be
right for me? Who knew this once big-city-loving girl, really had a small-town
heart?
Certainly not me.
But God did. It was
his plan all along that I would merge my life into this community and I am
thankful for this every day.
It is a privilege to live in a small town and if you live in
one also, I’m sure you’ll agree. There are aspects of a smaller community that
cannot be matched in larger cities. The
town may be small, but the living is large. Not large in scale, but large in
the benefits to those who get to live here: slower living, the beauty of nature
not blemished by city life, and the comfort of a close-knit community.
Small and Local
When we first thought of making this town our home, I admit
I wasn’t a huge fan of moving here. We do brave things for love, and for the
promise of a Super Walmart being built in town.
After being here for 15 years, I’ll keep the love, but I’d
trade the Walmart in a second.
Small towns provide unique opportunities for local business
to thrive and events and attractions to become ingrained in the community
culture. In the past few years, we’ve
seen a revival in our downtown area mixing new boutiques and a lovely coffee
shop with an established pottery shop and tried-and-true restaurant. Our
library gives our kids plenty of opportunities to love reading and our bigger community
park borders the river that runs through our town. Although our old movie theater
is nothing but a lit marquee, it’s a pretty cool backdrop for local festivals
and bluegrass bands.
Farther out from downtown, we enjoy legendary shaved ice, an
ice cream shop, a local bakery, and every weekend night in the warmer months,
the drive-in is open with current movies. If you love the outdoors, you may
love our county’s waterfalls, caves, hiking, and camping spots that both
residents and visitors can enjoy.
Our town really is a gem.
Community
We have small town charm and plenty to do on a weekend, but
my favorite part of living here is the community.
When I was young, I attended multiple elementary schools and
even spent half a year in Canada. My
family didn’t put down roots until I was about 10 years old, and I was happy to
blend in to my city. We made it our
home.
But there is something to be said for being a long-term
resident of a small town. I have friends
who have lived here their whole lives and have maintained solid friendships
since Kindergarten. My own kids have been here since birth and we plan on being
here forever, Lord willing. What a sweet thing it is to make memories and friendships
for life.
Don’t get me wrong, being a part of this community has taken
time. Making friends has its challenges wherever
you live and unkind people permeate every town, but there’s certainly a lot to
be said for the closeness of a smaller community. My husband has roots here; it’s
what pulled us to this town. Many of the opportunities I have experienced are a
result of relationships he built prior to meeting me, but now our family
benefits from the relationships we’ve cultivated together.
God is so gracious in giving me a job at the local high
school which puts me face-to-face with many of our families and lets me see the
needs in our community. I have built solid friendships with fellow educators
and have watched our community rally around those with sickness and those who
have experienced loss. I have school spirit (sorry Hilltoppers, I’m a Warrior
now) and enjoy hating on the town up the road when football and basketball
season rolls around.
He has also allowed us to put roots down in a local congregation
where we get to worship and fellowship with people that have come to be dear friends.
These friends, no matter if they are life-long residents or new transplants,
love both our town and its people. This love doesn’t spread outside the walls
of our church unless we are actively loving each other from the inside. We are Believers
in community loving our community.
I Love My Small Town
Fifteen years ago, I had no idea how blessed I would be
living in a small town, but God knew. He
knew the Naaktgeborens needed to be here and that we would want to give as much
to our community as we would receive.
This town is as much a part of us as we are of it and there
is nowhere else I would rather be.
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