Get The Hell Out of Your Life

Mama's Are The Key to Life

September 06, 2024 Ron Meyers, Leroy Morris Season 5 Episode 35

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Can a heart attack turn into a blessing in disguise? Today, we sit down with Leroy Morris, a gifted wirebender and artisan from Alabama, who shares his remarkable journey of faith, transformation, and art. Leroy describes the life-changing moment that brought him closer to God and how he discovered a profound sense of purpose through his handmade jewelry. His work is more than just a craft; it's a ministry of joy and kindness, symbolized in small gestures like signing "amen" on customer receipts.

Leroy's story is deeply rooted in family and faith. He reflects on the significant influence of his grandfather, who instilled in him the importance of making others happy. From caring for his mother after his parents' divorce to being a devoted father to his 10-year-old daughter, Leroy's life is a testament to love and commitment. We also touch on delightful moments, such as Leroy sneaking McDonald's fries to his daughter at school, and his special connection with grandmothers who cherish his unique jewelry pieces.

As we celebrate the unwavering love of a mother and the empowering grace of Jesus, Leroy's journey serves as an inspiring reminder of the strength found in faith. He shares his insights on finding peace and security in God's love, even adopting a "desert island mentality" to navigate life's challenges. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of doing what you love, spreading kindness, and the transformative power of divine love. Join us for an uplifting conversation that promises to leave you with a renewed sense of hope and faith.

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Speaker 1:

It's time now to get the hell out of your life. A weekly broadcast with real people sharing real struggles and offering real hope. Today's show will encourage, inspire and empower you to face life's challenges with a bold confidence and renewed hope. Now let's join our host, ron Myers. The promoter.

Speaker 3:

Hello, my friends, it is so good to be with you. I've been praying for you this week that's right, every week, lord, everyone that listens to this show. Bless them, empower them, encourage them, inspire them with the words and the thoughts that you would like them to have through today, tomorrow and the next day. Friends, this is the greatest time to be alive and I'm so glad you tuned in because I have another great story today.

Speaker 3:

A friend of mine, leroy Morris. I met him last year inside my Christmas City Gift show. He was a first-time exhibitor but I knew when I met him he was a little different because he was a good old country boy from Alabama. He had his 10-year-old daughter with him. He's called a wirebender. He'll tell you a little more about that in a minute. But, friends, I noticed something. People were talking to him, they were laughing with him, they were giving him a hug and talking with his little daughter, and I said this man has something inside of him. I think it's probably Jesus, but I don't want to assume that. I want to go talk to him.

Speaker 3:

Well, I really didn't get to talk to him too much through the event because it was so busy, but the other day I was preparing for the show, and I do like every single week the same thing, lord, what are we going to talk with the listeners about this week? And I had the thought of Leroy Morris, this pop in my head. So I did what somebody that listens to the Lord does I called Leroy Morris. I said, leroy, I don't know what you're up to, but do you have a few minutes to talk to me and talk to my listeners about who Leroy Morris is? And he said, yeah, ron, let's talk. So, leroy, thank you so much for taking my phone call and allowing me to ask you a few questions about your journey in life, what you do and, most of all, leroy, do you love Jesus?

Speaker 4:

Well, you got to love two people in life, Jesus and mama.

Speaker 3:

Jesus and mama, and that's it. I met you last year. You were an exhibitor, a first-time exhibitor, inside the Christmas City Gift Show. So, leroy, tell us who is Leroy Morris.

Speaker 4:

Well, I'm Leroy Morris, I'm out of Alabama and I'm a wirebender and I'm a freehand artist. I make jewelry on the spot. I just do everything I do by hand and I just try to be a good guy and a good salesman and I like to make people happy. That's my goal is I enjoy doing what I do for the people and the public because they love you when you treat them good and I like being liked by the people so I figured if I always treated them good they'd love me. And so far, so good. I've been doing it a long time.

Speaker 3:

Well, leroy, you talk about taking a piece of wire and bending it into a piece of art. Isn't that what Jesus did to you? He got a hold of the old Leroy the old Leroy, the wild, crazy man and he bent you into a man that now you have a purpose and you have a calling on your life to share Jesus. Is that correct?

Speaker 4:

That's correct. My wife. She was a wild one and needed a little guidance in life and I just helped her out and now she's a great woman, a great mom, and we ain't together but we're still good friends and you know, we got a baby girl together and that's what matters in life.

Speaker 3:

Now, leroy, you had your daughter with you at the show last year and she is a polite young lady. I think some Jesus has wore off on her.

Speaker 4:

Oh yeah, and my little girl. She loves searching Jesus too and she believes that Jesus puts you here for a reason and he made you as you are and she's learned to accept the things that ain't. You know like a lot of people think everything's supposed to be perfect. Well, she sees things as it is and she makes me see things better just by her being. You know, a kid sometimes tells it better than a grown-up. You know, they shoot it straight to the point, they don't beat around the bush.

Speaker 3:

Now Leroy, when did you meet Jesus?

Speaker 4:

Well, I've had Jesus pretty much my whole life, I guess. When I was about 10 years ago I had a bad heart attack and that brought me a lot closer. I had got real sick up in Indiana and had a heart attack and I was up there all by myself and nobody could come to my rescue and anyway it was just. I was up there all alone for about three or four weeks at a hospital and you know, when you buy yourself you ain't got nobody. So you better learn to love some Jesus. That way it gives you some kind of hope and future and something to believe in.

Speaker 3:

you know I had not met you before Christmas City? When you're interacting with your customers as you're making some jewelry, do you get on the subject once in a while of Jesus?

Speaker 4:

Well, I have a thing I do. On each purchase that a person buys from me, they usually pay me with a debit card and when they do, because of the COVID and all that, I don't let nobody touch my phone. So on everybody's ticket I always sign it, amen. And then I always show the customer the you know I wrote amen. And then I show them what their little balance is and it always makes me feel good and I think it makes them feel good too.

Speaker 3:

I know you travel around the country and you meet people and it seems like a lot of people are fearful and scared of the future, but they won't turn to Jesus.

Speaker 4:

A lot of people out there right now. They're just in such a fast world. It's just too fast for them. I just don't think people act like they got time for Jesus right now. You know what I'm saying. People don't pray enough, ron. I mean, I pretty much pray almost all the time I'm awake because I ain't got nothing else to do. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 3:

Do you get your prayers answered?

Speaker 4:

Yeah, I'm still with us.

Speaker 3:

You're still with us.

Speaker 4:

I'm glad I've had a fun, enjoyable life and I mean, you know, I just find a way to get through it. You know, no matter what the struggles are Like, I had to have some surgery a few weeks ago and I had to come up with about $5,000 for my surgery and I didn't have the money. And anyway a lady walked up to my little girl and gave her the money just instantly.

Speaker 3:

Wow. God is an amazing God. He always provides just when we need it. So Leroy is an amazing God. He always provides just when we need it. So, Leroy, now, if somebody walked up to you and they said listen, Leroy, I'm worried about my life. Who is Jesus? What would you tell that person?

Speaker 4:

Jesus is that person that's always going to be there for you. When you got nobody to turn to, you can always turn to Jesus. He's alive and he's with us and he's always going to love you and be there and be your friend. You know. Just believe in him and you know, good things will happen. You know, don't give up. That's the main thing. Don't give up. Don't go backwards in life, you know. Don't like you said, don't? You know a lot of people turn to a lot of the wrong reasons when things get bad, and I try to find a little bit of good in the bad and make things a little better. That's what I try to do.

Speaker 3:

I saw the customers interacting with you last year at the show and I can't help but think that part of the love that you show in your art is just because that's the destiny, that's the talent that God has given you. Have you always been able to make art? Yeah, i's the destiny, that's the talent that god has given you. Have you always been able to make art?

Speaker 4:

yeah, I've always had that gift. Uh, my people tell me all over that leeway, you got the gift of the gap and I'll tell them all that, uh, I got it from my granddaddy.

Speaker 4:

He was a baptist preacher and uh, the last I guess, year or two of his life, when he was passing away, that they had called me and my mama to take care of him and he didn't have nothing. And uh, anyway, me and my mama stayed with him and uh, anyway, he was a. He was a. He was a something else. You know what I'm saying. And he believed that in making people happy sometimes it might be a white lie, you know, like telling a woman how pretty she is, knowing she ain't pretty, but it would make people happy. So it's what he generated in my mind was make people happy. You know, even if it ain't the right thing to do, sometimes it is the right thing to do.

Speaker 3:

So your grandfather had an influence on you growing up, right yeah.

Speaker 4:

Oh yeah, my granddaddy. He was a fun guy, he was my buddy.

Speaker 3:

Now what about your dad?

Speaker 4:

Me and my dad got along for many years. I played a lot of ball. My dad was a coach and he coached me through ball until I turned about 13. And then, when him and my mother divorced, I had to live with my mother and take care of my mother, because we really didn't have nothing. After the age of 12, 13 years old, me and her just went from place to place, but at least I had my mama. You know what I'm saying. She passed away about, uh, four years ago, uh, right around this time of the year I'm sorry to hear that yeah, she was a great woman.

Speaker 4:

She was uh, she was just a little bit loopy in the mind and there wasn't nothing nobody could do about it, and that's why I wanted to always stay with my mama, because she needed somebody there. She really just needed help, and none of my other brothers. I had older brothers, I have two older brothers and three older stepbrothers and they all wanted to live with my daddy because my daddy had a little bit of money and me and my mama we didn't have a whole lot going on and I just didn't want her to be left alone. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, you're a good son. You know you're a good son and now you are taking care of your little 10-year-old.

Speaker 4:

Yeah, that's my pride and joy, my mom and my baby girl and Jesus, that's it.

Speaker 3:

That's it. Amen, leroy, I think it's pretty cool that you went up to school today and had lunch with your daughter Taco Tuesday, wasn't it Today?

Speaker 4:

I went up to the school and they had chicken sandwiches.

Speaker 3:

Ah, they changed the menu on you.

Speaker 4:

Yeah, it's usually Taco Tuesday and I like sneaking up there to see my baby girl and anyway she was excited because I had some McDonald's fries in my pocket today. So anyway, I probably shouldn't have did it, but I had some in my pocket.

Speaker 3:

I bet you have a lot of McDonald's fries in your pockets, huh.

Speaker 4:

Well, I did take her some McDonald's fries today in my pocket, so I thought that was funny.

Speaker 3:

You're a good man and a good artist, and so people can come see you at the christmas city gift show in november, can't they?

Speaker 4:

yeah, I enjoyed the show, did really well last year and, uh, this year I'm gonna be prepared for it and uh, this year I'll have more uh choices to choose from, because I'll invest the money to make the jewelry for the people. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 3:

Exactly Every piece that you do is unique. It's a one of a kind you can't do it.

Speaker 4:

Every piece is handmade, different, lots of it. I engrave with the hammer, I do stuff and put all the kids, grandkids' names on it. That's one reason why I interact with a lot of you'll see a lot of the older women over there shopping women. People always say how in the world does this kid sell to them older women? Well, the trick is, grandmas are the key to life. I mean you, you, you know I have a few good items that grandmas really like and I just feel like them. Grandmas, take care of them, grandbabies. So I have a bracelet called a grandma bracelet and sometimes I'm really blessed with it. Yeah, I don't have a whole lot of competition doing what I do. Even the competition I have, they actually like me a lot and you know they've always, if I needed help, they'd help me out in my life. So I know I'm a good guy because when the competition will help you, that lets me know I'm doing pretty good who is jesus to you?

Speaker 4:

jesus to me is pretty much all I got. You know, I've been out here alone for a long time and, and you know I go a lot of places, travel and do this and do that. You're always saying, lord, help me, I need you know. You just, he's just somebody that's always been there for me and he's always there for you. I don't know what he is to everybody else, but to me it's something to believe in, you know.

Speaker 3:

Leroy, will you say a prayer for us please?

Speaker 4:

Oh yeah, Dear Heavenly Father, please be with us and just thank you for everything. Thank you for the opportunity to come here before me and thank you most of all for just being a part of my life and giving me this angel that I'm about to go pick up right now after school.

Speaker 3:

When I return, let's unpack Leroy's story.

Speaker 1:

You're listening to Get the Hell Out of your Life with your host, ron Myers. Real stories, real struggles and real hope.

Speaker 5:

Here's a refreshing word from Ephesians 5, 1 and 2. Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us.

Speaker 6:

What's your story? We're looking for stories of hope and overcoming life's struggles with God's grace. Your story validates God's love, mercy, restoration and forgiveness. We want to help you share your story with the world. Visit our website, thepromoterorg, and click on the Share your Story link and submit your story. Your testimony of God's amazing grace will change a person's destiny for eternity.

Speaker 5:

The Christmas City Gift Show. We've transformed the entire Mississippi Coast Convention Center in Biloxi into an illusion of Christmas, with gifts for everyone Games, planes, jewelry and toys, paintings, pottery, candles and food Guaranteed to put you in the Christmas mood. Visit the North Pole with free kids' crafts and photos with Santa himself. Bring the whole family to the event. Everyone is talking about the Christmas City Gift Show in Biloxi, inside the Mississippi Coast Convention Center, the holiday event you've been waiting for, produced by Ron Myers, it's the greatest show in the South.

Speaker 2:

Don't miss the 41st annual edition of the Christmas City Gift Show, friday November 8th through Sunday November 10th, inside the Convention Center at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi. For tickets and more information, log on to ChristmasCityGiftShowcom. That's ChristmasCityGiftShowcom.

Speaker 1:

Your time and how you're living will change it.

Speaker 4:

You don't like where you're headed? Rearrange it.

Speaker 1:

You're sick of being let down and you want to turn your life around. If you want to start living right, get the hell out of your life.

Speaker 3:

Get the hell out of your life. Welcome back listeners. Leroy Morris, what a story. Did you ever meet someone? And when you met them, you just knew that you were going to get along with them? Leroy had something in him and where was it put into him in life? His mama, his grandfather. There's so many people that influence us in life, and mamas are really one that are very special. I remember years ago I interviewed a prison chaplain and he told me that Hallmark, the greeting card company, would send the prison greeting cards for the inmates on Mother's Day and Father's Day. He told me that on Mother's Day they ran out of cards and on Father's Day, well, they didn't run out of cards. And so I thought about that after talking with Leroy.

Speaker 3:

A mother's love. It's really truly unlike any other. It's characterized by its depth, its strength and its unwavering nature. It's a love that knows no bounds, no limitations, no conditions. A mother's love is a steady force in our lives, a comforting presence that we can always rely on. It's a love that is ever-present, even in the darkest of times. Leroy talked about going from place to place because they didn't have anything, but his mom's love was shining like a beacon of hope and encouragement, in other words telling Leroy Leroy, it's going to be okay, god's going to take care of us. It's a love that is patient and forgiving, understanding and accepting, no matter the circumstances. And we heard from Leroy that a mother's love is a powerful force that can move mountains, heal wounds and transform lives. He's taking what he's learned from his mother and now sharing that with his precious daughter. The love of a mother is a precious gift, a treasure that should never be taken for granted. It's a love that shapes us. It guides us, empowers us to become the best versions of ourselves.

Speaker 3:

Leroy became an artist, as he said in the show. This was his gift and talent, and he also discovered that when he was doing what he loved and loving what he was doing, people liked him and he liked people. Friends, that's the secret to life. Do what you love. Love what you do. The love that Leroy's mother had placed in him, with that nurturing and encouraging him, spread into the customers. It spread into the show. That's the thing about love, god's unconditional love. The Bible calls it an aroma that we walk around with this aroma of love, and people sense something different about us. They want to talk to us. You know we live in a world that loves us one day and then they cast us out the next day, but the good news with Jesus is that nothing can snatch us out of his hands. His love is forever. His love is eternity. His love is empowering.

Speaker 3:

I said earlier in the show, I believe we are living in the greatest time. So how do we take advantage? If this is the greatest time, how do we take advantage of that? How do we do what we love, and love what we do? It's very simple it's between you and Jesus.

Speaker 3:

Remember when Leroy said that he prays all the time because he has nothing else to do and he lives in the country and he's by himself. Well, it reminded me as many times I've said on this show that we are living in a time where we have to have what I call the desert island mentality. It's just you and Jesus on a desert island. There's no church, there's no Bible, there's no radio show, there's no podcast. It's just you and Jesus. And I'm telling you, friend, when you have that desert island mentality and you drown out all the other voices that are telling you what you need to do with your life and when you actually accept and believe the goodness, the grace, the mercy of Jesus, your life will change forever, because you will be so solid in your belief, in your faith in Christ, that it doesn't matter anymore what the world says about you. It doesn't matter what the news says about the world, because you are secure in the arms of Jesus. And we are living in times right now that we need security in Jesus because, if not, it can become very overwhelming.

Speaker 3:

We can worry me. We can worry. I love my coffee with Jesus. My coffee with Jesus is me with my favorite cup of coffee, sharing my heart with Jesus. It's basically prayer, but it's not a formal prayer. It's a conversation. It's a conversation that I would have with my wife or a brother or a sister or a close friend. The things that bother me, the things that I wonder about Friends, we have questions, don't we? We need some answers. We have some fears. We need some peace, don't we?

Speaker 3:

The more you get to know Jesus, you will find out that he is ministering to you. He knows your hurts. He knows where you need healing. He knows everything about you. You were born for this time. It's not an accident. Jesus has a plan for you. He just needs you to be willing. Jesus loves you today, tomorrow and forever. Willing Jesus loves you today, tomorrow and forever. He is giving you permission to come to him at the foot of the cross. Bear your heart and let him come in and give you a peace that surpasses all understanding, give you a confidence that you'll go out of your home, your business, with a faith that's unshakable, because, no matter what you see, no matter what the world says, you know without a doubt that Jesus is in charge of your life. You are committed to him and when you have Jesus, you have everything that you need for a good, godly life. As Leroy told us, jesus is the answer.

Speaker 1:

You're listening to Get the Hell Out of your Life with your host, ron Myers. Real stories, real struggles and real hope.

Speaker 2:

We would like to express our gratitude to Coffee News for their support of this program. Are you tired of scrolling through the same old news feeds every morning? Then switch things up with Coffee News. Our publication is filled with interesting stories, brain teasers and uplifting quotes that are sure to brighten your day, and now you can access Coffee News anytime, anywhere, by visiting our website. So, whether you're sipping your morning coffee at your favorite cafe or browsing online from your desk, we've got you covered. Start your day off right with Coffee News at readcoffeenewsonlinecom.

Speaker 5:

The Christmas City Gift Show. We've transformed the entire Mississippi Coast Convention Center in Biloxi into an illusion of Christmas, with gifts for everyone Games, planes, jewelry and toys, paintings, pottery, candles and food guaranteed to put you in the Christmas mood. Visit the North Pole with free kids crafts and photos with Santa himself. Bring the whole family to the event. Everyone is talking about the Christmas City Gift Show in Biloxi, inside the Mississippi Coast Convention Center, the holiday event you've been waiting for.

Speaker 6:

Produced by Ron Miles, it's the greatest show in the South.

Speaker 2:

Don't miss the 41st annual edition of the Christmas City Gift Show, friday November 8th through Sunday, november 10th, inside the Convention Center at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi. For tickets and more information, log on to ChristmasCityGiftShowcom. That's ChristmasCityGiftShowcom, ron. We'll be back in a moment to wrap up today's conversation. We want to encourage you today with God's promise to you. It comes from the book of Jeremiah, chapter 29, verse 11. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and the future. That's God's promise to you when you choose to commit your plans and future to him. Now back to Ron.

Speaker 3:

Well, friends, my time is up and Jesus wants to minister to you today. That's right. He knows what you're going through, he knows the questions you have, so would you just allow him to minister to you? Just take a drive somewhere, go to the beach, you and him all by yourself, and open up your heart. This is a great time to be alive. It doesn't matter what the circumstances are in our life. I call them an illusion. They're a distraction from the enemy, because if he can get you off of what Jesus wants you to do well, then he will accomplish his goofy deed. So don't listen to the naysayers out there. Let them have their place in the world, but not in your life. It's you and Jesus, my friend. This is a great time to be alive, walk in power, walk in confidence, walk in faith, knowing that, no matter what anybody tells you, you are rock solid with your faith in Jesus and nothing is going to change your mind.

Speaker 3:

I'll be back next week with another great episode and listen. If you would like a copy of my story, the Promoter, go to my website, thepromoterorg, and I would love to send you a copy completely free. I'll sign it. I'll put a prayer in there for you because, friends, we're in this together. Let's encourage each other, let's encourage those people around us. Let's walk around with the aroma of love and let people know we're like Leroy, we have something different about us, and they just have to figure it out. What is it that makes that person happy? We know what it is. It's Jesus. I'll see you next week and remember this I love you, jesus loves you, and when you give Jesus your heart, you not only get the aroma of love, you get peace, you get power and you get purpose.

Speaker 1:

Get the Hell Out of your Life is underwritten by the Christmas City Gift Show. We invite you to come shop with over 255 vendors from all over the United States from November 8th through the 10th inside the Coast Convention Center located on the beach in Biloxi, Mississippi. You can find more information at ChristmasCityGiftShowcom. Thanks for listening, and if you would like to share your story of what God has done in your life or listen to previous episodes, please visit our website, thepromoterorg. Join us next week for another episode of Get the Hell Out of your Life Real stories, real struggles and real hope.