“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 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.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22: 36-40

As I was thinking about our time in the park today, God brought this passage to my mind. It was raining this morning and because it’s the end of the month, many people came for breakfast. At some point while we were there, I realized that time seemed to slow down.

Looking around the park, I saw all of our team members engaged in greeting, serving, and talking with our guests. God graciously granted us the luxury of time to engage those we were serving in conversation. As I talked with one man who we hadn’t seen for several weeks, the Spirit showed me that simple conversations are what our time in the park is all about. It is through these conversations that we invest in people’s lives and show them the love of Christ.

Yes, the food we serve meets an important physical need. However, as believers, we know that it is love that makes all the difference in our act of service. Without perfect love, our Heavenly Father would never reach down to us in His great mercy, Christ Jesus would never have made the ultimate sacrifice to save us, and the Spirit would not be the presence of God with and in us that empowers us to glorify God. Without this priceless gift of love, we would never be able to follow the call of God to minister through Grace’s Kitchen.

I am so thankful for the love of Christ—He gave up everything to extend grace to me and all of creation. My love can never match His, but through His power, I am challenged to love others sacrificially as He does me.

Soli Deo Gloria!

—Paula