“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” The third chapter of Ecclesiastes in the Good Book couldn’t have said it better.

Spring is in full bloom, the cold ground stretching and stirring from its winter slumber, and the wind is picking up all that dreaded pollen and wrecking havoc on my sinuses. It seems that everything else in life is stirred up as well, turning my schedule into a frenzied balancing act.

I’m a worker. I enjoy being productive and will usually end up with one too many things on my plate.  That’s how I was raised.

My parents were workers.  They are now trying to enjoy their retirement through their health issues, but when my brothers and I were growing boys, we never saw a lazy bone in our mom and dad.

I was the tag-along when my dad would take on carpentry and other maintenance jobs after his regular job working for the Orange Unified School District in Southern California.

I learned from him, watched him build furniture and fix electrical problems, watching his hands work and taking note of everything he did.  He is a man’s man and even though he can’t do what he used to, it doesn’t stop him from trying to be Mr. Fix-it for my mom.

My mom always had a house full of children that she would take care of for other working mothers.  As a homemaker, she checked off every box on the list of duties it takes to be a stay at home mom.

She was our mom and everyone else’s mom during the time they’d be in our home.  My younger brother was her tag-along and to this day, you will find him in the kitchen, whipping up a feast for whoever is coming for dinner.

Now that the temperature is on the rise, Vicksburg is coming alive with all the events of the season.  This means more coverage and articles and stories and once again, a very full plate.

As I conduct interviews, take photos, edit stories, layout pages and all the other duties that come my way, I take with me a lesson from my parents and the Bible, everything we do has a season — but also in everything we do, make sure to do it with purpose.

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Paul Barry is the managing editor and can be reached by email at paul.barry@vicksburgpost.com or by phone at 601-636-4545 ext. 123