“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.—Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)

Loving and serving others without having the spotlight on you is hard to do in our world today. This past week I had two opportunities to give away Knit, Pray, Share gifts. Tuesday-Friday, I was helping in a showroom at Dallas Market Center during the Apparel and Accessories Market. People from all over the United Stated attend this.

To give you an idea how large this event is, depending on where I get a parking spot, it can be anywhere from ½ mile walk to ¾ of a mile to get to where I am going. Each day, there are police officers directing traffic and getting us safely across the road. On every floor in each building, they have people diligently cleaning the bathrooms that hundreds of people are using throughout the day.

During the June market, I was able to bless one of the women who was keeping one of the bathrooms spotless. She would even pull down the paper towels for you. I could tell she took pride in what she was doing. I watched as women were going in and out. I wasn’t seeing or hearing gratitude for what she was doing.

I gave her one of my felted gift card holders with a Chick-fil-a gift card in it. It turned out that she didn’t speak English very well, so I wasn’t able to clearly communicate to her. However, I could tell she was thankful for what I had given her. Fortunately, the next day her supervisor was in the restroom one of the times I went. I asked her to explain to the woman why I gave her the gift. Again, despite our lack of speaking the same language, she was able to see the love of Jesus in and through me. I thought I sensed the same in her.

About a month later, I unexpectedly received a Facebook message from this woman in Spanish that translated into, may God greatly bless you eternally. The photo above is what she sent me. Just as I had sensed, she was a believer. Despite our language barrier, we were both be able to share the love of Jesus with each other. This encouraged me to do the same thing again this past week.

One day on my way out, I stopped by the bathroom to change my shoes for my walk to my car. As I sat on the bench in the bathroom, the restroom attendant, was on the bench next to me looking exhausted. I told her, “it looks like you have had a long day. I knit gifts to give to people to let them know I appreciated the job they are doing. I would like you to have this. It has a gift card to Chick-fil-a in it for you. Thank you for cleaning up after all the ladies that are coming and going. I appreciate you and the good job you are doing.” I can only hope that lifted her weary soul from a long day where she might not have received much recognition for what she was doing.

My second gift was given on Friday. I noticed the same police officer was working the crosswalk area. He was there from at least 8-5 each day working in the Texas heat. I would verbally thank him each day. However, on that last day, I gave him a knitted coffee cup cozy on a cup that included a gift card. I told him, “I know you have been here every day and not everyone thanks you for getting across the street safely, so I personally thank you and have a gift to give you to remind you that what you are doing matters.”

Matthew 5:14-16 was the scripture that inspired me this week. I tried to be a beacon of light to let others know God sees them and they matter. Spreading love and kindness may not get me any recognition in the public eye, but those aren’t my motives. When I give away a knitted gift, it needs to come from the heart, not because I feel like it is something I have to do. I haven’t kept track of each gift I have given away over the years. It doesn’t matter to me. God knows. He is who I serve not the world.

Each of us has been gifted with purpose and passion to do good works to grow God’s kingdom here on earth.  Do you believe God has strategically placed you to be exactly where you are so that you can be a light on the top of the hill as Jesus taught us in Matthew 5? Let God multiply your small acts of kindness so that it can have a ripple effect to those around you.

Father God,

Forgive me when I let fear of what others may think keep me from sharing my faith with those You put in my pathway. Thank You that you are abundant with Your grace, love, and mercy for me. Continue to transform me to be more like Jesus. Show me ways this week that I can bless people whose spirit need encouragement. I praise You that You can use me as a vessel to share the love of Jesus. As Matthew 5:16 reminds us, let good deeds from all around the world shine out for all to see, so that everyone will give You praise. It is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things. Amen.

 August Verse

“Keep alert. Be firm in your faith. Stay brave and strong.”—1 Corinthans 16:13 (CEV)

If you are knitting or crocheting gifts to give away, please make sure you tweet @KnitPrayShare or share your projects on the Knit, Pray, Share Facebook page or Instagram using the hashtag #KnitPrayShare. Be sure to attach a tag to whatever gift you make.