Buss: How about a little good news story today?
In 1986 Anne Murray wrote a hit song referring to the bad and sad times of that day. In a way it mirrors everything we read, hear about and witness today.
“There’s a paper rolled up in a rubber band,” she sang. “One more sad story, one more than I can stand. Just once I’d like to see the headlines say . . . not much to print today. Can’t find nothin’ bad to say.”
And if you’re telling yourself, “sure could use, a little good news today,” I’ve got a feel good story for you.
It began years ago with CBS’ great Sunday night adventure, “On the Road with Charles Kauralt.” He once did a piece about a family of Mississippi sharecroppers who beat crushing odds to produce one of America’s great success and family love stories.
I read about it recently in a book by former U. S. Marine and noted Pastor Chuck Swindoll. Sit back and enjoy a little good news story. It is about survival, success and coming home.
Mary and Alex Chandler were parents of nine children. They worked picking cotton on a Mississippi plantation for 50 cents a day. They shared a large one-room shack and often went to bed with stomachs growling for something to eat.
“I remember a time when we had a horse and a cow and tried to buy a mule, but couldn’t make the payments,” Alex said. “We eventually lost the horse and cow.”
Cleveland, the oldest of the nine children, had his heart set on going to college. Alex and Mary wanted to oblige, but they didn’t have any money.
“We went to town and I borrowed two dollars and fifty cents and bought Cleveland a bus ticket to Howard University. When he got there, he had nothing but managed to find work and attend school.”
He eventually became Dr. Cleveland Chandler, chairman of the economics department at Howard. Suddenly, one by one, the Chandler children left home to attend various colleges.
Cleveland’s brother Luther left home for the University of Omaha. There he worked corn fields and other odd jobs to pay his tuition. “We did what we had to do,” Luther said. “Picked cotton, pulled corn, stripped millet and dug potatoes.”
Luther helped his younger brother James attend Omaha for his undergrad degree, and James went on to complete his doctorate at Yale. And, James helped younger brother Herman attend and graduate from Morgan State. He became a transportation executive in Dallas.
After all nine children graduated they came together to build their parents a new home.
On Thanksgivings they gather, give thanks to God and share a meal. Then, because it was Alex's favorite song, they congregate in the living room to sing the great hymn, “I’ll Fly Away.”
Whenever I hear anything in America is impossible, I’ll think of them.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Buss: How about a little good news story today?
