To the editor:
Thanks to the Elizabethton Star for the good election coverage. Thanks to all the candidates whether elected or not elected for their willingness to serve the people of Carter County. Those elected can best serve the people by not raising taxes and getting more and better jobs to locate in Carter County. All candidates should work for unity in our community. If you ran as a Republican and didn’t win the right thing to do is support the Republican candidate that did win. Some Republicans face an Independent candidate in the August 2nd election. John 3:16 brings us unity and James 3:16 tells us where disunity comes from. James 3:16 “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
Some advice for winning candidates to remember is don’t become prideful because everyone says they voted for you and is your new-found friend. Remember the commandments still apply to you (don’t lie and steal, etc.) and don’t forget the voters who elected you. “Have character, don’t be one!”
Those who didn’t win are saddened by the painful public rejection and can feel like failures. They aren’t and we say thanks for not being afraid to put yourself out there and letting your voice be heard and try again in four years. President Theodore Roosevelt said it well, “It’s not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs; who comes up short again and again, because there’s no effort without error and shortcoming; but who actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms; the great devotion; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat!”
In truth the only failures are those that die having not trusted Jesus as their Savior. If you haven’t trusted Jesus as Savior call 1-888-need-him. Electoral and personal rejection can lead to great gain. President Washington and President Lincoln were better Christians and leaders because they lost elections. Rejection can make you more patient, humble and build your character. If you are a Christian never write yourself off because only Jesus is the author and finisher. You will never know what beauty Jesus can bring from your ashes until you give Jesus your ashes!

D. D. Nave
Elizabethton