Mincey’s Musings
Year One, Week Fifteen

Confessions and Love

I could never be a successful criminal. I have a huge guilt complex, and when I do something wrong I just have to tell someone about it. The Holy Scriptures tell us to confess our faults one to another (James 5:16, KJV). What we so often forget is the remainder of the verse, “that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

The point is to use discretion in the choice of confessor. If we confess to fellow Christians in a true spirit of seeking healing, confessing faults is wise. Unfortunately, there was a time in my younger days that I did something that was wrong. I was consumed with guilt, and was ashamed to confess to some of the strongest fellow Christians I knew; therefore, I chose practically the first available person at hand, a person I didn’t know well at all. It turns out this person had a multitude of problems, not the least of which was the art of gossiping. Only the intervention of a friend prevented my confession from turning into disaster.

But, I have been privileged in my later years, when I make what I consider a huge misstep, to have individuals that will listen to me and try to help me the best they can. I will give you four examples.

My Training Union teacher at the First Baptist of Maynardville was Barbara Archer (known as “Bobbie” to her family and close friends). If I had time and space to write and you had time to read them all, I could share numerous stories of how I know Bobbie loved me. Bobbie spent her last days in a nursing home, and I went to visit her on more than one occasion.

Even then, she was a great source of comfort to me. I told her a situation that was causing me grief, and she replied, “Don’t you worry about that. There’s people in that church doing a lot worse things than you ever thought about, and they don’t worry about anything.” That was Bobbie. If she loved you, her love covered a multitude of sins (I Peter 4:8).

Another source of comfort I have in times of need is my sister-in-law Easter Mincey who lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. There has been more than one time I needed to take a drive alone up north to confer with this wonderful lady. She, like Bobbie, is a Godly Christian lady who listens without judgement and gives good advice.

Yet another source of comfort is the lady who has been my Administrative Assistant at work for thirteen years. There are those who think that “Administrative Assistant” is a fancy title for “secretary”, and in some cases that might be true. But Norma Jones is far more than even a fancy title can convey. I have jokingly said many times that I believe I could tell Norma I was an axe murderer, and that she would not give me away, unless I threatened her or her family. Norma is far more than a co-worker, she is truly a friend. How many times during the years has she listened to me whine and bore all patiently!

And there’s my wife. Goodness knows (and anyone else who cares to listen) that she gets on my nerves so bad at times that I could scream out loud. Since I’m so close to perfect, she never has that problem with me. She also bears all patiently, and when the chips are down, she’s always there for me. If she knows or thinks I’m right, she upholds me; when she thinks or knows I’m wrong, she tells me and will have no part of my undertakings.

You will notice how much I have learned throughout the years—I have not made one confession in this article (except for that one). Not everyone is as blessed as I am and have been to have so many wonderful people in their lives who support and love them. There is an old saying that “if you have even one friend, you have more than you deserve.”
Some of the best fun and friends I ever had were in the churches I have attended. I will share next week about eggs and humor in the church.