Celebrating the Success of Others
On Sunday morning before church, I asked our deacon who was to make announcements if he would please announce that one of our former members is to be honored in town on Saturday. He knew all about it, of course. “I’m going to be there,” he told me. “My friend is coming in from Little Rock for it.”
Gainesboro’s big event on Saturday is what our county mayor is nicknaming “Jamie Dailey Day.” I wanted to make sure that our whole congregation knew about Saturday because Jamie was part of our congregation from the time he was about ten years old until he became a full-time bluegrass musician twenty years later. As a teen, he went to Christmas parties at Jo and Gary’s house. He used to sit on Miss Joy’s porch and drink lemonade. Ours is a church and ours is a town who loves this hometown boy.
The Tennessee Department of Tourism has a program called Tennessee Music Pathways. Around the state are markers designating places that have made a significant impact on Tennessee music. When the department announced that they were placing a marker on the Gainesboro square to honor Jamie Dailey’s hometown, Jamie and his hometown began planning a huge celebration — and homeschoolers are scheduled to play a major role. If you are close enough to come, I expect it to be a great day for folks of all ages. And be sure to bring lawn chairs! If you aren’t close enough to come, be encouraged by this story of the affection between a hometown boy and his hometown fans and by rejoicing about the role homeschoolers are to play on Saturday.
The time between the announcement of the award and the award ceremony has been short. At first, our state senator offered to bring in either legendary bluegrass band Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver or the Statler Brothers to entertain during the festivities. Unfortunately neither of those bands were available on only a few weeks’ notice. I’m still excited that those were even a possibility in our little town of 1,000. When that couldn’t happen, the Chamber of Commerce decided to feature entertainers from Jackson County. Soon we were deciding to make it completely a Jackson County day. So here’s the plan.
1:00 p.m.
Presentation of Jamie’s marker on the town square
1:00 until?
Jackson County artists and craftspeople exhibit their creations on the square.
While supplies last, the Jackson County Cattlemen’s Association sells their signature steak sandwiches.
Anderson & Haile Drug Store is selling delicious fruit jar milkshakes with special longer store hours.
Free bouncy house and slide and free mule wagon rides.
3:00Â p.m.
The Dailey and Vincent band presents a concert inside the Bull and Thistle restaurant with proceeds going to local charities. Tickets sold out quickly for this.
4:30 – 6:00Â p.m.
Jackson County entertainers, The Reynolds Family (bluegrass band); Jackson County Cloggers; and Browngrass (bluegrass band) perform a free concert on the square. I know each of these performers personally. Almost all are current or past members of the Homeschool Dramatic Society.
6:30Â p.m.
Free live stream Dailey and Vincent concert. While the band does another charity concert inside the Bull and Thistle (also sold out), the concert is to be livestreamed to the square. Everyone can hear the concert and watch it on a screen.
I’m also excited that on Monday evening Jamie is to host the first Rural Leaders of America Conference in Gainesboro. Jamie got the idea for this organization while working with local business owners and residents to help revitalize his hometown. Now he wants to help rural communities across the country thrive, and he wants to lead Gainesboro into a shining example for them all.
I’m thankful that our town is celebrating Jamie’s success. Learning to celebrate the success of others is an important skill our children need to learn.
Let love be without hypocrisy.
Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love;
give preference to one another in honor . . .
Romans 12:9-10