‘Smile! God Loves You And I Love You!’
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DAVE’S WORLD
By David Howell
Like all of Water Valley, I was saddened to hear of the passing of Binford Turnage Sunday. Mr. Binnie had a special way of making people feel loved, often with something as simple as a little yellow card.
I wonder how many of those cards he handed out over the years.
Thousands, probably. Maybe more than anybody could count.
Each carried the same message: “Smile! God loves you and I love you!”
Those little cards remain scattered throughout Water Valley, reminders of a man whose love for others was a beautiful reflection of his love for Christ.
It’s one thing to tell people about the love of Christ. It’s another to let them see it in you.
Mr. Binnie had a gift for both.
So often our religious traditions try to overcomplicate the walk and the message. Mr. Binnie cut through all of that with a simple understanding of what Jesus called the two greatest commandments: Love the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.
But loving others as Christ commanded is not something we can accomplish through human effort alone. That kind of love is supernatural, flowing from the indwelling Holy Spirit in those who have placed their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, His death, burial and resurrection.
The Apostle Paul describes the fruit of that Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…”
That fruit was so evident in Mr. Binnie’s walk, helping explain his remarkable ability to connect with and minister to the people he encountered.
My words are only a feeble attempt to honor his testimony. As news of his passing spread, it was a real joy to read the many tributes on social media. Story after story told of lives touched by Mr. Binnie’s kindness, encouragement and love.
As Lee McMinn thought about how to honor Mr. Binnie’s life and faith, he enlisted the help of Charles Homan, and together they came up with the illustration pictured at right. The image made an immediate connection with those who knew Mr. Binnie. What a fitting tribute to a man whose faith shined so brightly in the lives of others.
Mr. Binnie loved big, and he will be missed by so many.
