Kathleen Stark

A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love. –Saint Basil. As I’ve gotten older I’ve started to look for the people who set an example, who love, who listen, who care, and who are kind that’s the type of person I’ve found in my own life. Kathleen Stark. She is one of those people who can just look at you and make you feel special inside even when you’re going through the toughest of times. It doesn’t matter if you got an f on a test of your grandma died she is always there to support you and cheer you up!

I have known Kathleen for only 2 years and in that short amount of time she’s made me forget what other people think, be myself, love our God almighty, and the list could go on forever. I met Kathleen on a Sunday morning at Restore Community Church. I walked into my 5^th grade class waiting to be greeted by my 17 year old brother, Mitch, who was usually are 1^st service leader for church. Oddly I was greeted by a woman in her 30’s with brown hair and golden highlights. The first thing that came to mind when I saw her was “Oh my goodness that lady has the biggest hair poof I have ever seen in my life,” Yes out of all things that was my first reaction. Not knowing much about this lady I went on with my business not really thinking much about her. We went to Praise Parkway, our worship center, and this lady gave me I bright, white smile that I will never forget. The sparkle in her eyes made me get a tingly feeling up my spine. As we sang and danced, this lady really got into it praising God, and getting the other kids involved.  We ended are praise time and headed back to our classrooms. The lady started the lesson with smiles and laughs. I really got involved with our lesson competing with the other children to answer questions first. I always had a little friendly completion with a boy in my class named Declan who is the co-pastor’s son, but I always won being the pastor’s daughter. The end of the class arrived and I left the service knowing I wanted to see this lady next Sunday.

As the days have passed we both had gotten used to each other and started to gain a real relationship. I fell in love with this lady and her smiles. When the time came for me to move up into the 6^th grade class at church I was worried about meeting the new leaders and having to get used to all the new lessons and no praise time. I was most worried about losing Kathleen but when I walked into the light room, scared and worried, something caught my gaze. It was Kathleen. She had moved into the 6^th grade class just so she could be with me.

That’s when the real relationship began in that classroom, on that day. What I love about this lady is not only her oversized hair bump, but I feel welcome to laugh and have fun at church while I learn the ways of God. She and her husband, Matt, are beyond generous. They do the littlest things that matter the most. For example one day she took me and my friend Sophia out to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. We both, Sophia and I, brought money to pay for our breakfast but no there was no way we were going to pay her she just had to pay for us. Once when my mom and I were out at the Big Event, which it a celebration by the Global Orphan Project, and my mom had laid her eyes on a shirt, Kathleen immediately offered to pay.  Matt and she once paid for 10 Student Community T-Shirts and we got to pass them out to all the children for free. The list of examples is never ending.

She teaches a group of 6^th and 7^th grade girls at my church and all the girls agree that they can tell the truth and not really hide themselves behind her. Some of the wonderful girls in the group include Sophia, Abbey, Maddie, Elaina, Michele, Riley, Kelly, and more. These girls are like family to me. I can go to them with any problem and they can always come to me. At church I have learned things beyond my knowledge of learning that make more sense than 2^nd grade math. Kathleen puts everything into a new perspective at group. She lets the girls share their stories and open up. She lets the girls be the leader sometimes so we can see each other as a leader and show that not only at church but in the dark, cold, and scary outside world to praise Jesus and be the girl we really are inside. Not only has this magnificent lady touched the mind but she’s touch the heart and I will never forget what I’ve learned from her. I will never forget Kathleen Stark.

Dedicated to Kathleen Stark may forever your love grow.