“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” -Matthew 22:37-38
It is our privilege and calling to share God’s love with others. We do not have to be a great preacher, teacher, missionary, or some other spiritual leader to convey the love and grace of God to the people in our lives. Each of us 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.
Miss Patty 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 over 30 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 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. This conversation would lead Miss Patty to make the first of many hats for her kids.
Since 2005, Miss Patty has handmade a hat for every student who 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 over 7,000 hats for her students. The students who have received their hat know they have a friend in Miss Patty. It is far more than a hat. It is a symbol of love. Each student knows that someone cares about them. I can only imagine how Miss Patty has made a difference in the lives of her students.
Each of us has a gift. You may not have considered this gift as 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 of blessing others is a direct fulfillment of the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:34-40and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). 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 a relationship with our God, who truly loves us all.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
