May
9
2023
The Best Seat
Posted in Discipleship Leave a comment
My little granddaughter just had her fourth birthday.
Her mommy and daddy had a little tea party for her on the weekend.
My daughter and I drove together and brought my other two granddaughters.
The little birthday girl had her cousins, a few friends, and her baby sister to celebrate with her.
All the little girls wore dresses.
It was a beautiful spring day and they began by playing outside.
There were princess figures on the ground, and play tea cups and saucers.
A tea cart, laden with pretend food, was pushed around the yard and patio.
Glimmering necklaces and shiny rings were worn by the little girls.
Soon it was time for sandwiches in the shape of a triangle and tepid tea in cute cups.
The girls giggled and ate their lunch on adorable plates on the pink tablecloth.
There were only a few spills, as the girls waited for the confetti cake.
Happy Birthday was sung, candles were blown out, and play resumed again.
One little friend had her little two-year-old sister with her.
Something about this little one melted my heart.
She kept coming over to me to make sure I saw her pretty dress.
Can you twirl around in your pretty dress? I asked her moving my finger in a circle.
She happily obliged and made sure everyone saw her, as her dress twirled with her.
She went over to the book basket and pulled out a book.
Read to me, she said as she handed me the book.
She never met me, yet she felt safe enough to ask me to read to her.
Her mommy was across the room and we smiled at each other.
Do you want to get up on my lap? I asked her.
She turned herself around so I could easily lift her onto my lap.
We read the book together.
I pointed to things on the page and she named that to which I was pointing.
She was able to make the various sounds for the animals she saw on the page.
She pointed to a cookie, an apple, a banana, and a butterfly with ease.
When we finished the book, she wanted to read it again.
Her mommy was able to go down the basement with the four-year-old girls.
She knew her little daughter was content.
How did this little one know that I love books and love to read to children?
The older girls came back upstairs when it was time to open presents.
My granddaughter was so excited and thanked each person with words and a hug.
As the gifts were being opened, my three-year-old granddaughter wanted to sit on my lap.
My seat gave her a bird’s eye view of her cousin opening the presents.
My little two-year-old friend came up to me holding the book we just read.
She stood there in front of me with the saddest look on her face.
It was as if to say, She took my spot.
There was room for her as well, but she walked away with her book in her hand.
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
“We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:35-45)
We can read about James and John’s request and think, how could they?
If we were honest, we would have to admit that we probably would have done the same thing.
We would have positioned ourselves in the primary spot.
The other ten apostles were indignant, perhaps because James and John asked Jesus first.
We always want the best seat in the house, even if we don’t admit it.
Jesus reminded His apostles, and us as well, that He came to serve, not to be served.
How are we doing?
Do we want the best seats or can we remain in the background, unnoticed to all but God?
Apparently, my lap was the best seat.
Maybe because I am Grandma.
Maybe because I am the book reader.
Maybe because I was sitting close to the presents.
Like my little two-year-old friend, we can look so disappointed if the spot is taken.
In my imagination, I hear Jesus say, there is always room on My lap.
Those places have been been prepared ahead of time.
There is always room to come and draw near.
Leave a Reply