We are all called to share God’s love. In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus tells us to, “go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19) This verse from Matthew is known as the Great Commission. God gives each of us gifts to share this love with the world. There are many people in the world and many gifts to accompany each of us as we fulfill the great commission.
When I was growing up, I thought that the only way to fulfill the great commission was to be a great preacher, teacher, missionary or some other spiritual leader. This could not be further from the truth. Each person has been given a gift. God has given us a way to connect with others and offer a tangible way to know and share the love and grace of God.
This week, I read about Miss Patty. She is a wonderful example of using her gifts and her passion to bless others. Miss Patty is a school bus driver for Clarence Central School District in New York. Miss Patty has been working with the school district for many years. She cares deeply for the children and works hard to build a relationship with each of them.
In 2005, Miss Patty was taking care of her mother. She spent a lot of time in the hospital and needed something to help occupy her time. She decided to learn how to crochet. She was a natural. It was not long until her newfound talent and her passion for her students connected. One high school student was getting on the bus and asked about the yarn she had. Miss Patty told him she was trying to make a hat. He told her that would be cool to have when he went skiing. Miss Patty asked him what colors he liked. Miss Patty would make the first of many hats for her kids.
Since 2005, Miss Patty has handmade a hat for every student that rides her bus. She takes time to get to know them. She asks them what colors they like. Miss Patty makes a personal hat just for them. She has now made 7,083 hats for her students. It is far more than a hat. It is a symbol of love. The students who have received their hat know they have a friend in Miss Patty. Each student knows that someone cares about them. I can only imagine how Miss Patty has made a difference in the lives of students.
Each of us has a gift. You may not have considered that this gift is an opportunity to share God’s love. We each have a gift to communicate the love of God. Miss Patty shares her love for her students with a tangible gift, a symbol of their connection. Using our abilities with the purpose to bless others is a direct fulfillment of the Great Commission. When people know they are loved, when we show others that they are loved and cared for by God, we open the door to help them see that they too can be in relationship with a God who truly loves us all.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
