I attended the Union County Opry this past Saturday evening. I was not there to enjoy the music, but to sell concessions for the Union County Lions Club with my nephew Joe. There was a gentleman there who once dated a member of our family. In the course of conversation, Joe asked this fellow who he married. He told his wife’s name, a name that was unfamiliar to both Joe and me. Joe said, “So you didn’t marry a Union County girl, huh?” The man replied that he was afraid to, as he might unknowingly be marrying his cousin. That sure would be a spin on the old phrase “kissin’ cousins!”
Last evening at a receiving of friends at a funeral I struck up a conversation with a brother and sister who were in line behind me. The lady said, “You’re Ronnie Mincey, aren’t you?” They weren’t my cousins. It turns out she and her brother were from Union County. She told me that she had read some of my articles and had enjoyed them. Though they were a few years younger than me (several years might be more accurate, but “few” makes me feel younger), we all had experiences at Luttrell Elementary and in Union County in common. We were in a rather long waiting line, and the pleasurable conversation with these two made the time seem to pass more quickly.
I was blessed on both my father’s and mother’s sides of the family to have numerous cousins, many which I have never to my knowledge met. Occasionally I meet a cousin of which I was unaware, and there is always a certain element of mystery in the meeting.
I have a friend of many years. I’m not really sure when we met—it might even have been in elementary school. In high school, this friend had this guy who liked to “pick at him” (the country way of saying “bullying”). Strangely enough, the two found out they were cousins at a funeral. It seemed harder for the bully to pick on his own cousin. I was with this same friend when an older gentleman came up to him and said, “You don’t know me, do you?” It turns out this gentleman was my friend’s father whom he had never met. That was somewhat awkward for my friend, especially with me present.
Hebrews 13: 1-2 (KJV) says: “Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” I’m always amazed when I encounter someone who knows me but I don’t know them. The images of the students I taught in elementary school are frozen in my mind as they were when they were children—there are many I do not recognize now that they are grown.
There are reasons that people should conduct themselves decently in public. First of all, others may know us, even though we don’t know them. Secondly, an initial encounter might not be forgotten, so it is always to advantage to make the first impression a good one.
There was a gentleman who was a door greeter at his church. This poor follow was stopped by a policeman for a traffic violation. This was the first time either had met the other, and the encounter was not pleasant. The doorkeeper was belligerent with the policeman. Guess who appeared at the church door not many Sundays afterward?
I remember many years ago that Porter Wagoner sang a song “Be Careful of Stones That You Throw.” You can find the performance and lyrics on YouTube. The message of that song is as true today as when it first came out many years ago. When we speak ill of others, we just might be throwing stones at our own kin—“ain’t that right, Cousin?”
To all my cousins and others reading this, I wish for you the very best life can offer. Remember me especially if you win the lottery or if you are rich and have no one to whom you can bequeath your wealth. Even if you’re no kin of mine, I’m sure I can help you share the wealth!
Dear Reader, I leave you with the following thoughts from my world of email.

"When you marry the right woman, you are COMPLETE.
When you marry the wrong woman, you are FINISHED.
And when the right one catches you with the wrong one,
you are COMPLETELY FINISHED!" (Samdar Balgobin)

Those of us who were part of the WW II & Baby Boom generation
married and had children.
Today’s young adults cohabit and have pets.

If you're sitting in public and a stranger takes the seat next to you,
just stare straight ahead and say, "Did you bring the money?”

The more I get to know people,
the more I realize why Noah let only animals on the boat.

"Live life in such a way you would not be ashamed
to sell your parrot to the town gossip." (Will Rogers)

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines,
and when we're "in line," we talk to everybody!

Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them
will discover they're related, even if only by marriage.

Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.