For those that know me best, hearing that I am 110% a Daddy’s girl will come to no surprise.  He lovingly referred to me as Hot Rod or Pistol Pete and always made me promise I would be his little girl forever.  As you can imagine, I hold the men in my life up to the high standards of my daddy.  (Many fail…which could be one of the main reasons I am still single at 40, but we will save that for a future post.)

Only one man even comes close..and close he does.  In fact, what he has done for my mama, daddy and me, completely tips over the kindness scale.  He was my daddy’s best friend.  My daddy confided in him, shared joys and tears, right until my father’s last breath.  His name, Ray Johns.

I am confident God sent Ray into our lives because He knew we needed a friend like Ray to get through my father’s illness and the coping of life after his passing.  And God not only gave us Ray, but his wife, Kay, too.  Their late nights and long days of sitting through my daddy’s care are far too many to count.  Their actions of love, whether it be toiling on the farm or just a hug to say “Hey, I got your back”, are endless.  My mama and I will never be able to repay all these acts of kindness, and yet they keep on giving.

To think Mom and I are “special” or the only ones to receive their kindness is foolish.  If I were to guess hundreds and probably more like thousands have had the blessing of Ray and Kay’s kindness. I would guess the majority of their phone calls consist of “Hey, Ray, will you…..and fill in in the blank.” Fixing cars or motorcycles with little or no charge.  Coming to your aid in the middle of the night because Ray was the one person you knew you could call for help.  Being broke and asking Ray for a $20 to get you by.    All of these things and so many more he does without judging…just loving.

He’s been burned by evil-doers.  Folks have taken advantage of his kindness.  And Ray knows they will, but yet he keeps giving.  His heart doesn’t harden.  While mine, if I am perfectly honest, does…like a stone sometimes for people who have harmed me or shown no regard for my kindness.

So what makes Ray so kind that many of us find impossible to do?  The answer came to me this morning at church (Ebenezer 1 UMC–you should join us sometime). Pastor Mark’s sermon titled Giving Up Self focused on how “It’s not about YOU.”  “If you are living for self, you are not following Jesus.”  Ah-ha!  Ray lives out his love through sacrificial action. He knows full well that his repayment of his kindness is not monetary but rather his reward  is real life in Jesus.  Ray gives because he knows he is supposed to love like Jesus.

Ray is not a millionaire of money but he would surpass Forbes richest man in the world of friends and love.  And isn’t that what we are all really called to do?  Love your neighbor as yourself.  Ray takes it to heart.  The world would be a much better place if there were more Ray Johns.

So my challenge to you this week is to ask yourself how can you be more like Ray?  Who can you love and do something for that they will probably never repay?  It is that act of love and kindness that Ray exemplifies and that Jesus teaches us to do.

Until next time follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

Refine and Revive,

Big Red