Welsh nans befriend wrestler!
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Lynn
Crawford, 71, Susie Matthews, 73, Rose Sulley, 74, and Christine Goodwin, 80
are all grandmas
from Wales who have been friends for more than 40 years. They had an interesting
plane journey recently when they went to take Rose’s late husband’s ashes to be
scattered in Las Vegas.
Due to a
confusion about seating, they found a very well built young man called DeReiss
Gordon sitting in one of their seats on the plane. They kindly asked him to
move but he was convinced he was in the right seat. Well things got a bit
heated, but eventually all was sorted out and one of the nans asked the young
man why he was going to Las Vegas.
It turned
out that he’s a professional wrestler known as “Man like DeReiss”, and he got
chatting to the women and invited them along to see him wrestle a couple of
days later. Well they kept their promise and went along to their first
wrestling match.
They got
a message through to DeReiss and he later said “I was at the merch table when
someone told me, ‘you know those nans from the plane, they’re here’”. They had
their photo taken with him, they hugged, and since then De Reiss has reached out
to them on social media and has invited them to another match in London where they’ll
meet some of his fellow wrestlers.
Here’s
how DeReiss reflects on the story. “"I think we got on because our lives
are so different, we found each other interesting," he said. "People
don't talk to each other enough. If you strike up a conversation, you'll often
find someone has an interesting story. Just ask the person next to you how
their day is going, or why they're travelling, there's usually a story behind
it."
Well I
like DeReiss’s style and I’m going to try and chat more with the people I meet.
Jesus
Christ was not shy when it came to strangers. He took an interest in them, he
got to know them, and they often ended up with more than they bargained for- healing,
forgiveness, eternal life! And he wants to know you too. Why not come along to
a church near you, or even to “A Passion for Life”- an event at the Riverside
Park on 14th June- the Sunday the day after the Riverside Gala,
where 500 people are going to gather for an open air church service. It’s
designed particularly for those who are kind of curious about Christianity.
Come along. Like the nans from Wales, you might make a friend. You might get
more than you bargained for. You’d be
most welcome.
Thanks
for listening.