Years ago I was walking by the barber shop and the man I loved was inside it, working.

This is truly one of my favorite memories…  We all should have them.

Selah.

You see, when I was a young, single working woman I was a sinner: but God put a lot of great values in me, many of which I adhered to even at that time because His Law is written, and always has been, upon my heart. I did have some worthy morals: and as a young single woman working at a job in an office back then in my early twenties, when I was finished for the day I would walk through a building with many stores and things. One of them was a barber shop which had all glass windows from top to bottom. I am a people-watcher, I would always look in as I passed by. I became friends with a barber I never talked to, of course, I didn’t know his name either, nor he mine. But we loved each other! He probably started our friendship. I am sure he did. At the very beginning, as I was looking in, he waved and smiled to me. I returned this kind and precious invitation with sincere affection for a man I didn’t know and from then on, always looked forward to seeing!

This is Black History Month so I want to add he was Black (remember, I am White.) I can still remember pretty well how he looked. He was short, he was probably about fifty years old. And he had a smile that blessed my soul even back then when I was not living right; not paying any attention to my Creator and Lord of all.

Selah.

This dark man was so beautiful to me! Still is though I haven’t seen him for over forty years. I wonder if he ever thinks of me long past those days he and I would wave and smile at each other! It was a thrill! There was no romance with us, of course. He was probably old enough to be my father. When I think of people who are not the same colour as me that I have a relationship with, even slightly, I thank God for all the ethnicities God has created. He is the Great Creator and the Great Artist! He loves diversity and colours!

PLEASE NOTE NOW: you cannot, cannot, cannot be a child of God and hate people because they look different from you!

In my present state, 2021, now as a mature Christian woman I would do more than I did back then. I would go into that barber shop and tell him my name, introduce myself. And most of all, I would tell him how great he makes my day better because of his warm and loving smile and wave! When we both are in Heaven I know he and I will remember our loving encounters. May the God of all give you favorite memories like this one!

SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS FOR THIS JOY STORY:

Romans 2:12-16
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.  For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law.  They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Romans 13:8
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

Acts 10:34-35
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.