By Brenda Cannon Henley
Folks, I am usually sold on whatever I want to cover in my column each week and seldom have difficultly in writing what is on my heart. I almost always (and have for many years now) written about subjects I know best, truths I am living, issues I am facing, or blessings God has given me. I do pray before I write anything and ask God to clear my mind, help me to be on point, and to make my effort a blessing to others.

I sat down to write what you are reading three specific times, and found myself with way too many thoughts, my mind going different directions, and my heart unsettled. I have asked God to guide me and give me only the words He wants shared.

Writing for the general public has taught me that every human.being has an opinion and they are vastly different. I have good friends all over the political spectrum, involved in various causes, givers, takers, winners, and losers. I work with people from all walks of life and like to think our various ministries have have helped people over the years.

Yesterday, in my local church, I heard a fourth generation Roma Gypsy preach two different messages. Walter Stevens is an exciting speaker and I learned so much I did not know about the Gypsy populations of the world that his church planting and evangelistic ministry reaches.

He was different from my son, the senior pastor of the church, whose messages I normally hear. I am making this point to say different does not have to be bad or wrong.

I respected the Gypsy pastor and his huge heart for his people. He stirred the hearts of our people and I think it is safe to say his messages made an impact and taught us many things we simply did not know. The young lady that presented the special music was a talented singer whose heart was in her music and was a blessing to me. This girl could sing and she enjoyed doing so.

The only sad thing I noted is that one or two had already made up their mind, based on their facial expressions, body language, and with their acts of obvious non-enthusiasm, that this wasn’t for them. They were not going to like either the songstress or the preacher.

Folks, God loves everyone. He needs every willing witness to reach a lost, confused, and dying world. Just watch the evening news or read your newspaper.

You will win more to your view with happiness, genuine love and concern, and a bright smile than you ever will with a frown, unhappy disposition, and a dismal, “the sky is falling” personality. People need truth, but it must be presented with kindness and compassion.

My pastor often said down through the years, “Excited people excite people.” In the day and age in which we live, people, we need happy. We need kindness. We need help and we need hope. Well adjusted, caring people can disagree civilly and respectfully. You will never win me to your view by being cold, hateful, rude, shaming, and superior.

Let’s enjoy this ride called life and make it count, for ourselves, and for others. My new Gypsy friends do.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788, or
[email protected]

[8-5-2019]