We were at the zoo the other day, and this zoo has some kiddie rides. Since we have gone to this zoo every year since the kids were born, we knew it well. My son has always liked trains, so he jumps every year at the opportunity to go on the train ride. The train has a huge bell which he likes to ring as he goes around the track. But, this year was different. A little boy, equally excited about the ride jumped in front and wanted to ring the bell. I can see the disappointment in his eyes, especially when my husband said " Let him ring the bell. Take the backseat." My son had the opportunity to make that situation a huge scene, but he didn't. Instead, he climbed in the back seat quietly and smiled and waved at us as I enthusiastically took his picture.
It reminded me of the battle we face as Christians between doing what we want to do vs. what would be in someone else's best interest. All of us struggle between selfishness and selflessness, humility and pride, gentleness and harshness.
Luke 14: 7-11 says "When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
It is easy to want to take the best seat, the most convenient or the most prominent seat. It is in our nature to make ourselves as comfortable as possible. But as a follower of Chtrist, we only have one choice of seats - the backseat.
A wife. a mother. A pastor's wife. Above all, a Christ follower.
Popular Posts
-
Some of you might be wondering if I have fallen off the face of the earth. The answer to that is no. I am still writing, and am very encour...
-
I turned on the TV Friday night just for some background noise. Soon, i heard the ever-catchy Men at Work song " Be Good, Johnny"...
-
Don't you wish God would just tell us what he wanted for our lives? Don't you wish He just used a megaphone? Or write it in hierog...
-
Well, the verdict is in on my book proposal. I finally got the courage to contact the publisher that has my book proposal. She got back to ...
-
The more research I do on John, the more I come to know and understand who he was. As most of you know, I am wrestling with why John was cal...
-
It id funny what leittle moments can do to make you thin kabout your relationship with God. Tired from a long day at work we convened for d...
-
I stumbled upon this article by Mary Demuth, an amazing Christian author. Some of you out there are in the writing business, and some of you...
-
I stayed home from church yesterday because I wasn't feeling well, something I hardly ever do. And you know what? I don't think abou...
-
I have a hot a bit of a snag on my writing journey. I have been dealing with the beginnings of carpal tunnel syndrome for the past month. It...
-
I have been taking a class in personnel management and as we have explored the topic of “human talent’ and that all people have worth and ca...
Michelle, thanks for sharing this. This is the second time God's placed this verse in front of me this week. I'm paying attention!
ReplyDelete