Assigned Seats

November 3, 2009...wow...the years have just flown by. My precious Gabe turned 13 last month and in a few days Kristina will be 17. Man, it just seems unreal to me how quickly the years have came and went. What tickles me even more is how after all these years they still sit in the exact same place in my vehicle. Without fail Kristina will get in behind the passenger and Gabe will enter behind the driver.

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When Kristina was a baby I put her behind the passenger seat so that while I was driving I could tend to her if necessary and then when Gabe came along I put him behind the driver so that as we went about our travels I could hand Kristina whatever Gabe needed and she could help me. Hence, their assigned seats. I laugh when a kink gets thrown in their routine because I have literally seen these kids unbuckle their seat belts, slide around each other and get in the "correct" position.

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If you walk into our church service this Sunday you will see my family sitting to the left of the center aisle, six rows (approximately) from the front. We pretty much take up the whole pew and as I scan the faces around me you can quickly tell if someone is missing. No one ever told us to sit there, we weren't assigned to that pew, that is just where we ended up and have yet to move.

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Whether we realize it or not we all have "assigned" seats in our life. Sometimes I think those seats were simply handed to us and we accept them but then sometimes we choose that seat and never move. Why? Maybe it's comfort or habit. Maybe because we belong in that particular seat. Maybe it's the fear of not being able to find another seat. Who knows...

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I'm just glad that Jesus has never changed his mind about His seat! Right there beside my Father! "The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven." Hebrews 1:3 (NLT). After He cleansed us from our sins he took his seat! Right where He is supposed to be. He sits there with pride and honor and dignity for He is the one who chose us. Makes me mad at myself when I realize that as I walk through life sitting in the same seats over and over that many days I don't chose Him!

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Next time my behind hits the seat I pray that my mind is focused on where the Son sits. I pray that I remember that I am nothing and He is everything. I pray that I think about how He sacrificed himself for me. How he bled and died for every sin that I committed and will commit. I pray that I will respect His seat more that I respect my own. I pray that instead of worrying about my seat...I will worry about someone else's seat. I pray that I have the courage to make sure my friends, neighbors, fellow shoppers, co-workers, teachers, enemies...all have their seat secured. I pray that I get over myself...