CADIZ - The largest early breakfast crowd in the 18 years of the Harrison Community Hospital Leadership Christmas Breakfast came together Friday in the catering cafe cafeteria.
Terry Carson, hospital administrator, welcomed 110 leaders of county government, organizations, businesses and hospital doctors.
He said over the years donations of those attending have brought in more than $15,000 for children in the county who would have a sparse holiday otherwise.
"It started in our old cafeteria and has grown over time," Carson said.
The Rev. Roy Nelson of the Wintersville Seventh Day Adventist Church told the story of a young boy who carved a wooden boat that he would float in a large body of water. He kept a string tied to the boat to keep it secure, but one day the wind gusted and the string slipped from his hand and the boat sailed away.
He was distraught and looked for the boat for years. One day, while passing a pawn shop, he saw the boat in the window and entered, telling the shop owner the carved boat was the boy's. With a look of disbelief the shop keeper said, "No matter," you still have to pay me to get the boat." The boy ran errands and worked hard to get the money needed. On the day he had the correct amount, he went in, slammed the bag of coins on the counter and said, "Payment in full, I want the boat."
The shopkeeper handed it over, muttering under his breath. "I made you, you were taken from me, I found you and no one will take you away again," the boy said. Nelson compared this to Jesus Christ, saying, "The Father does not give up on his child. There is no task he won't do for his children."
Amanda Borkoski, a local recording artist who has released a CD, provided Christmas songs.
"In these troubled economic times, family are friends are the most important thing to be concerned about," county Auditor Patrick Moore said.
(McCoy can be contacted at emccoy@heraldstaronline.com.)
