The custodian at the elementary school, Mr. Patton, is known for his
hard work and upbeat attitude. “He cares about the building, he cares
about the teachers, and he cares about the students,” says one teacher.
Recently, Mr. Patton got a surprise when he found the entire school
gathered in the gym to honor him. The children offered many touching
tributes: “Not only does he clean stuff, but he always brightens our day
with funny jokes. Thank you, Mr. Patton!” Caught completely off guard,
the custodian was moved to tears.
Contrast Mr. Patton’s demeanor with that of James, the saint whose
feast we celebrate today. He wants to follow Jesus. But like his
brother, John, he seems to be expecting some kind of acclaim for it—like
a seat right beside Jesus in the restored Israel. But Jesus brings him
down to earth. The real leader is the one who serves, and serving
doesn’t always bring the kind of recognition we’d like. For James, it
meant decades spent evangelizing in Spain, followed by martyrdom.
Sometimes, our attitude toward service needs to be readjusted as
well. It’s natural to want to be noticed and praised, even though we
know that God promises that the last will be first, and the first will
be last. But even if we have mixed motives, it’s better to go out and
try our best to serve the Lord rather than waiting to be perfect. This
is what James did; it’s what all the apostles did. They didn’t let their
imperfections hold them back.
Don’t worry if you find yourself having mixed feelings. Just keep
serving, and let God sort things out over time. Know that everything you
do is important to him—everything! Just keep dedicating yourself and
your work to the Lord. Try to adopt Mother Teresa’s practice of doing
small things with great love. Even if there are times when you do small
things with just a little bit of love, God will see it and bless it.
Nothing is small to him—and neither are you.
from wau.org
