Do you have a place of business you frequent one or more times a week? If so, how would your life change if it left, or was destroyed? Our local WalMart is one of those places for the majority of people in good ‘ole Baxter Springs, Kansas. It isn’t a supercenter, but was the smallest WalMart for a period of time.
This store occupied the south end of our shopping center since it originated 35 years ago. Recently, they announced they were closing, giving employees and the public a 2-month notice, throwing everyone in a tailspin. The reason isn’t certain, even though an explanation was given. Nothing will keep it open now. It can’t be reversed.
This is a great loss to our community. We learned firsthand last spring what loss of business does to a town when a tornado decided to touch down. Loss of sales, itself, affects the tax base, which in turn affects city income. They were also big supporters of our community, hosting fundraisers and giving themselves to local charities, including our Word in Action Ministries, which feeds the hungry and helps the poor. Our ministry also rang the bell for Salvation Army there to use funds for utility assistance in our county.
The problems are endless. Personally, it will require more organization, time, gas money, and help in accomplishing my basic shopping needs. Many times, we’ve had to run there at the last minute for copy paper or ink for the printer. If the hardware store was closed, we’d run to WalMart to get a key made, buy some doorknobs, or paint for a rental house. Every time one of these needs arise, we will be suffering all over again. I’m not sure how those without transportation we help will manage.
One thing is for sure, our community will grieve this loss together, the way we did after last spring’s tornado. We will talk about it when we see each other at restaurants or church. We will share frustrations and possibly some solutions. We will cry when the pain gets to strong.
Good things don’t take away the pain, but they do make it more bearable. Evidently, the WalMart officials from Arkansas asked our local WalMart employees to suggest a charity for them to bless one last time. Thanks to their graciousness, our ministry received a rather large donation we will be able to pay the food debt we still owed from Christmas, fix our broken vehicles we use for transporting people to appointments, and buy some materials for our transitional housing and resource center projects.
What are some major losses you’ve been through?
Has God ever blessed you after a major loss or tragedy unexpectedly?
I’d love to hear about it if He has.
Comment below.
© 2015, Jena Fellers. All rights reserved.
Robin Dixon says
Hi Jena!!
I can certainly relate to the feeling of loss at the news of our hometown Wal-Mart store closing. I have shopped there for years and could find what I needed because of familiarity to the store. I will also miss the friendly faces of the workers that I knew from the community. Change is a part of life, we must embrace it, smile, and move on! Many times when a window closes, a beautiful door will open!
Blessings!
Pastor Robin
Jena says
Thanks for your comments, Robin. Change is part of life and going through it with friends makes it bearable. It forces us to move forward in ways we wouldn’t otherwise go.