Duct Taped Stool – by Alisha Ritchie
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” Matthew 22:37 NIV
He is a little rough around the edges, wearing mismatched clothes and disheveled hair. His thick country accent makes him hard to understand. But I love my new physical therapy patient.
We undertake therapy outdoors underneath an old shed because his house is inaccessible. Every day we work on exercises to increase his strength. And every day he offers me the same thing- an old duct taped stool to sit on. It’s clearly the better of the two stools in his possession. The other stool is more tattered and faded, with uneven, wobbly legs. He always sacrifices the better stool to me. It doesn’t seem like much but it’s the best he has which he freely gives.
My patient’s character reminds me about giving God my best. In Matthew, we learn to love God with our heart, soul, and mind. We are called to give God everything. We may feel unworthy of the gifts we have to bestow but we’re inspired to give what we have. By wholeheartedly serving others, we’re giving our best. By using the talents we have been blessed with to worship Him, we’re giving the greatest part of ourselves. When we rely on courage from God to point others to Jesus, we’re following His will for our lives.
Heavenly Father, please encourage me to give you my very best today. Help me to love you with all of my heart, soul, and mind that I may deepen my relationship with you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Alisha writes from North Carolina where she enjoys spending time with her husband of almost twenty years and two wonderful children. Contact | 
