The Best Seat

A few weeks back I had two of my sweet grand-kids over to spend the night.  I was fixing them a snack and told them to sit at the small kids table downstairs.  Moments later, there was an earth-shattering scream.  I ran to see what the problem was.  

My 4 year old granddaughter had the only kid's chair in a death grip while my two year old grandson sat on the floor in tears.  It was pretty obvious that he had been forcefully evicted from the chair.  

After a few questions, I took the chair from my granddaughter, and I gave it back to its rightful owner.

Then I tried to explain to her that I had another chair exactly like that one.  Tears streamed down her face, loud wailing resounded and I realized words weren’t going to work.  This girl needed proof.  

I ran back up the stairs and retrieved the matching chair.  It was the same size, same color but it still wasn’t good enough—until I said, “I’m going to put this chair in the best place.  You can see the TV better from here."

She stopped crying.  Her eyes darted from the chair to the TV and back again.   

Then the tears stopped, and she took her seat of honor with a satisfied and maybe a bit mischievous smile knowing that she had the best seat.    

Funny thing about kids—they haven’t learned to mask their true feelings.  They can’t hide selfishness, envoy or pride.  All their emotions are out there like an open book for the world to read.  

“Give me the best.”

“Love me the most.”

“I want that.”

“It’s mine.” 

“Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.”  Philippians 2:3 (NET Bible)

Adults may be better at hiding their true motives, but we all know there is a 4-year old child within us that wants the best chair, even if it means displacing another.  

This week, examine your true motives and bring them into submission to the Lord.  He can see that mischievous smile, and he knows your heart.  You’re not fooling Him.