Today’s Post By: Rae Lynn DeAngelis
I recently spent time in a small town called Bruceton, Tennessee. Now when I say small town, I mean a really small. Teeny tiny—less than 1,500 people.
Although the town was unimpressive by sheer size, it was quite remarkable in another way.
Everyone I came in contact with was extremely friendly and polite. “Yes Ma’am”… “No Sir”.
As a native Midwesterner, I was enamored with their southern twang. It was contagious. By the end of my three day stay, I found myself imitating their Tennessee drawl. Another week or two and I might have blended in with the locals.
Even small children were courteous. And you could tell that it wasn’t something they put on for show. It’s the way they were raised; it came naturally.
When I walked into a little general store to get a bag of ice, a young man rushed up behind me to open the door. I’m sad to say I was a little shocked by his gesture. But more than shocked, I was impressed.
Driving through the main part of town, I began to understand what drove the little town’s hospitality and kindness.
Churches were positioned on just about every street corner, and even our hotel (a Best Western in the neighboring town of Camden) oozed the love of God. A sign out front read, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
You certainly don’t see that every day!
Inside our hotel room, not only was there a Gideon Bible, but there was also a devotion book on the nightstand.
How cool is that!
There was no question about the stand they took concerning God.
Perhaps we could stand to learn something from Bruceton’s good old southern hospitality.
I know I sure did!
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” (Philippians 2:1-2)
