“Now let’s face it….” For the most part I think it can be safely said that most conversations that have those words in it are not all that pleasant. Those words usually make us face up to something that we would just as soon not think about. This time those words were a prelude to something that got worse….and then much better.

Saturday as I was setting up the table for my book singing at Mardel in Frisco, I was very happy to see a small crowd begin to gather. I had just finished stacking the books on the table, after putting my tablecloth on it. I have a tablecloth made for a six-foot table. It drapes over the table and reaches the floor on the front as well as on both ends.  On the front it has the words, Grumpy Smith, Just An Ordinary Man. I also have a director’s chair that I use that has GRUMPY embroidered on the back. I didn’t bring the other chair Saturday. It is identified as NOT GRUMPY. Standing just over my right shoulder was a seven-foot tall standing banner that has a picture of Everyday Christianity, and me.

One of the folks who gathered said “hey, your that guy from the church on McDermott Road aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Wow, I heard you preach there, and I gotta tell you,…hey guys, (to the other three or four people standing there,) this guy can preach. I couldn’t believe it. We were visiting there one Sunday morning and someone got up and said Kent Smith is going to be speaking to us this morning, and then you got up, and I said to myself ‘oh no, this is going to be boring.’”

“Well thanks a lot.”

“No, no, wait.” (And here it came.)  “Now let’s face it, you’re no spring chicken, so when I saw you walk up there I just figured we were in for a boring lesson, but man that changed before you were a minute in. I loved it. Guys, I’m telling you, this guy can preach. He is awesome!”

And with that, he was gone. I was smiling from ear to ear as a woman standing there handed a book to me and asked me to sign it for her. Here’s the thing friends, the last time I preached at McDermott Road was August 10, 2008. That was over ten months ago. Thank you Lord for giving me a shot of “atta-boy.” After all, You know better than anyone that my number one love language is approval.

About an hour later, I looked up to see a man flanked by two girls walking straight toward me. He appeared to be a man on a mission, so I quickly ran through my self-preservation mode to determine whether or not I should start running the other way. Did I cut anyone off in traffic this morning? No. Have I recently told a woman I didn’t know that she was one sexy beast? No. Have I told anyone that their mother was three dog ugly? No.  By the time I had gone through my list he was smiling and extending his hand to me.

“Hi Kent, I’m Preston Belt.”

“Well I’ll be dog, Preston Belt. What in the world are you doing here?”

“I’m in town helping my son Murdock move into his new house. He runs the music department here, and I saw that you were going to be here and I had to meet you face to face.”

Preston and I have been FaceBook friends for a few months now. I think I may have hooked up with him through one of my cousins, but I don’t know that for sure. At any rate, I have enjoyed reading his comments on the home page of FaceBook He’s a farmer type guy from Lockney, Texas. I appreciate the down to earth kind of guy he is, and was pleased to have him walk up to me and introduce himself. He and his girls, Sarah and Elizabeth, took me over to meet Murdock his son. It was such a pleasure for me. 

It turned out to be a great day, and the folks at Mardel were pleased with the number of books we were able to sell. As I was gathering my stuff to leave, Murdock came over to say bye. He told me, “I am so glad dad got to meet you, he thinks you are awesome, and I tell ya, coming from my dad, that really means something.”  He went on to tell me that Preston reads my blog everyday and just feels like we are the same kind of people.

Well, what can I say folks. I had two of the best “atta-boys” I have ever had Saturday. I found out that two men I had never met before have been touched me. God is answering my prayer that He uses me to help others through the gift He blessed me with. To God Be The Glory!

“Father, continue to use me as you see fit. Please open the door of opportunity so I can share with more people, and impact more lives for You. Father, I ask You to put Everyday Christianity into the hands of someone today who needs to read it. I ask You to use this blog to Your glory today, so that someone may be touched, and brought closer to You. Father, please provide me with places to speak, so I can use my talent to strengthen Your children.”   

Till next time,

Grump