A True Difference Maker

My Uncle Wayne once preached a sermon he entitled, “It’s Your Birthday.”

He was not a preacher. But he was a difference maker.

From time to time he was asked to preach at the church he attended in Columbus, GA. I have two of his sermons recorded and I listen to them from time to time.

In this sermon, my uncle Wayne shared that growing up as a child, his mom’s car would always break down. Of course, he’s talking about my grandmother. This had an impact on him.

Wayne said that as a child, he was convicted that when he turned 16 and was able to drive that he would always stop when someone was broke down on the side of the road and help them. And this is one thing that Wayne did and that he was known for. He always stopped to help people who needed help.

Some people said he carried a tool box like a preacher carries a Bible. This led him to not only help people on the side of the road, but homeless people, street people, prostitutes, really anyone that needed help.

It’s Your Birthday

I want to share with you one story my uncle Wayne once shared when he preached this sermon called “It’s Your Birthday.”

“I was coming home from work one day and I stopped to get gas. And I was leaving out the back way and I saw her. She was standing on the side of the road right there.

I asked her if she needed a ride. She got in the truck. She said, “I’m out trying to make some money are you a cop?”

When I hear that kind of stuff I tell you my heart just goes out because I know she’s someone’s daughter. I had a daughter about her age. Her clothes were rags. Her shoes were worn out. Her hair was a mess. She wasn’t very pleasant to look at.

I said, “No I’m not a cop. I was sent here to give you this.”

I reached in my pocket and gave her some money. I said, “I don’t want anything in return.” She said, “Out here no one gives you anything. What do you want?” I told her, I said, “This is different. This is a gift. Because you’re special today.”

She started crying and she said, “How did you know.” I said, “Know what?” She said, “How did you know that today was my birthday?”

I said, “Happy birthday from God. He knew.” And the floodgates opened and the crying started. And the tears were just beyond control. She could hardly breath.

After time she pulled this ring off her finger. She said, “I found this in the street. It had been run over in the street. And it’s broken just like me. Just like my life.” She handed me the ring and said, “I don’t know if its worth anything but I want you to have it. It’s all I have. And every time you look at it I want you to think of me.”

And she said, “I want to go home. Would you please take me home?”

And on the way there, she said, “I wonder if they’re going to want me when I get there.”

I never saw her again. I often wondered if, when she got home, if they wanted her. And I wonder if they gave her a birthday party.”

Difference makers see people and love people

There are people in your life everyday who are broken and need you to notice them and remind them that hey are people of immeasurable worth.

Who needs you to see them and love them today?

My uncle Wayne also said this, and I think he’s right…

The way a person is received makes a difference in how the story ends. – Wayne Culverhouse

You never know what hangs in the balance for someone when you see them and love them the way Christ see’s them and loves them.

If you would like to hear the complete sermon including this story, I would encourage you to give it a listen. I think it will bless your life more than you might know.