Today’s Thought “Servant – Leader” G. Ward

“Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.” Psalm 37:5-6

On Saturdays growing up, we were privileged to have a housekeeper who would render thorough cleaning indifferent from day to day chores. Mrs. Binion could be seen walking from two blocks south of our house as she would depart from the bus there. Her arrival time was approximately 7:30 a.m. As ordinary (on Saturdays), my brother and I would awaken quite early anticipating great interaction with our friends. Our mother shared how we should listen for her arrival and gladly let her in. Not knowing what to expect, my brother sought extending hospitality towards our new guest by preparing a special breakfast for her. Although his grubby hands were not washed thoroughly, he was most earnest in hospitality. It was 7:30 and there she stood, a Black lady appearing to be 5’5 and 175 lbs. or so. In retrospect she may have been in her 50’s. We greeted her with smiles as she entered. She immediately complimented our home environment and how kind we were. Although my brother did all the work, I initiated how WE prepared breakfast for her. While she sought insisting that she mustn’t, we insisted that she had to indulge. I recall her uneasiness in seating herself at the table. While she was eating we began interrogating her (in the way children did of that era = nothing beyond family and where she resided). We were captivated in how she shared that 12 children lived with her in a house less than ours. We both understood that what WE prompted was the right thing to pursue. Every Saturday she would arrive with our welcoming her with an outstanding breakfast.

Mrs. Binion always smiled while cleaning and upon her leaving, our home was positively spotless as she walked back to the bus stop to present the receipts of her labor unto those 12 children. Surely Mrs. Binion has passed on many years ago, but what’s remembered most is how without wavering, she provided an excellent service unto us and her family.

Happy Tuesday!