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10 THE BUZZ AROUND WAYNE COUNTY MARCH 2026 Love Lives Next Do A Daily Pause with Tammy Mathis February often reminds us to think about love, but love does not only show up in cards or candy. Sometimes, it shows up quietly-right next door. Recently, a neighbor I had never met shared collards and turnips that she had received. No special occasion, no long conversa- tion-just kindness. I even asked if she would cook them for me. She said no...but I appre- ciated the honesty and the vegetables just the same. We both laughed. And just like that, a small moment became a connection. Love in our community does not have to be complicated. It can look like speaking to someone you usually pass by, volunteering your time, checking on a neighbor, or help- ing someone without expecting anything in return. Sometimes it starts by simply opening the door-literally or figuratively. When we step out of our comfort zones and into shared spaces, we build trust. When we look out for one another, we strengthen the heart of our community. This month, consider reaching out. Learn a new neighbor's name. Offer help. Accept help. Love grows when it is shared. Breathe. Trust. Become Bee Kind. Spread The Honey An Act of Kindness Goes A Long Way By Joyce Marie Gorney Today was one of those moments that restores your faith in people! I took my daughter to Fashion Nails & Spa to treat her to her very first salon experience for her 3rd birthday. When we walked in, I mentioned it was her birthday and that we were celebrating with getting her nails and toes painted. When I went to check out, I found out that a woman who had already left had paid for her services as a birthday gift because she thought she was so cute and well-behaved and wanted to do something kind for her! I was completely caught off guard and hon- estly started tearing up! Such a simple act of kindness, but it absolutely made my day and turned a special birthday moment into some- thing unforgettable. To the sweet stranger who did this —thank you! She ended up picking pink, which is her favorite color. Your kindness meant more than you know We will absolutely be paying this forward Light Emerges By Ryan Lane After months of gray skies, frozen wind- shields, and mornings that felt darker than night, the first signs of spring are on their way. Across neighborhoods marked by salt-stained roads and brittle grass, something is shifting. The sun lingers a little longer in the evening. The air softens. Soon, buds will press quietly against bare branches, as if rehearsing for their return. Winter rarely leaves all at once. In the same way, the heaviness of dark seasons doesn't lift overnight Experts speak of seasonal depression caused by a lack of sunlight—when light is scarce, hope can feel distant. But there is another kind of darkness no change in weather can fix. Spiritual winter comes when hearts close them- selves to the Light of Christ. Yet even then, God is not silent. Classical Christian teaching reminds us that God reveals Himself through creation, conscience, history and providence, Scripture, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the transformed lives of believers. The question isn't whether God is revealing Him- self—it's whether we are open to that revelation. Longer days alone cannot heal the darkness within us or around us. We must turn to the Son—S- O-N—whose light restores the soul. And that requires submission. We cannot ove rcome evil by our own strength; we must yield to Christ. When we open ourselves to His revelation and surrender to His light, the frost begins to melt. Spring always follows winter. And the Light always overcomes. Christ's Passion A Message of Hope and Love By Rev. Alan Shaw On the night of His betrayal, Jesus fully understood the suffering He was about to endure. In deep agony, He prayed, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup [of suffer- ing] from Me."Yet, He chose not to escape, though He had the power to do so. Why? Because Jesus' Passion is the ultimate ex- pression of love—for you and for all people. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," but Jesus was "delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." Through His sacrifice, your sins are forgiven, and you are declared "not guilty" by God The 40 days before Easter, known as Lent, invite us to pause, reflect, and confess our sins to God so we can accept His overflow- ing grace and forgiveness. Lent is a season to acknowledge our shortcomings and prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter, when Jesus rose victorious over sin, death, and the devil, securing eternal life for those who put their faith and trust in Him. This Lent, you are warmly invited to Peace Lutheran Church at 1002 Garner Manor Drive. Join us Thursdays at 7pm during Lent (February 19–March 26) and every Sunday at 10am. Come hear Jesus' words of forgive- ness, bring your questions and worries, and lay them at the feet of the God who loves you so much that He sent His Son to suffer, die, and rise again for you