The Applause Is For You

Last night I attended the opening of Seussical the Musical. As much as I love musicals, I don't always make it to the local children's theater. But, last night was different. Three of my little grandchildren have starring roles in this spring's production! Yes, that's right. They are three beautiful fish. Brightly colored, glittered faced, silver-shoed fish! Okay, it's true confession time--they don't have lead roles, those roles went to the older kids. The Cat in the Hat, the people from WhoVille, and Horton the elephant are all teenagers who can SING (I'm talking Broadway baby), but our two seven year olds and one eight year old didn't disappoint the director. They put all they had into their fish-roles (ha-sounds a little like sushi).

My daughter and I have taken turns for over a month making sure our little actors were at practice, gathering up the necessary parts for fish costumes, coaching from the sidelines with words like "smile" and "don't scratch on stage," and recording the moments on video and still photos. As for the kids—they have loved every minute of it. Here's another true confession, the play could go on if our three little fish didn't show up. In fact, this coming Saturday it will, as the kids all have other things to go to that afternoon. But, there will be a hole on the right side of the stage where three adorable little fish should stand.

Last night was family and friends night. You can imagine the laughter and applause as those people who love these children the most watched them perform. I wish I could have been behind the stage, peeking out, so I could see the faces of each mom, dad, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister and friend as they observed what they believed to be a "perfect performance" out of their shining star. What love filled that room! The curtain call was amazing. Everyone was standing, the clapping was nearly deafening, and smiles were bigger than the one of the tricky Cheshire Cat in Alice's adventures.

Anytime I am in an event such as this I can't help but think of the first verse in Hebrews 12. Of course, to know why that verse was written you have to go back to Hebrews 11. If you haven't read Hebrews 11 in a while, take time this week to do that. Anyway, Hebrews 11 is the curtain call of the cast of characters in the play of life titled, "God's Most Faithful Followers." It's a curtain call EXTRAVAGANZA! Great men and women like Abraham, Joseph, Sarah, Noah, and Moses are named because each of them has a starring role in this life-changing play. Each one was given a part to play and each one performed it as God called him or her to do. Then the first verse I love in chapter 12 is this:

"Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"

I LOVE IT! You see we all have starring roles in this play of life. There no insignificant roles! In life, if you don't show up---YOU ARE MISSED! And here's the great part—we have an audience of the great men and women recorded in the Bible cheering us on. Their faces are glowing with love and joy as they watch us carry on the job they began many years ago. As they watch us faithfully take up our "mom cross" each day and help with homework, drive carpools, kiss bruises, say prayers, watch ballgames, hold hands, nurse, nurture, and nourish the children God has place in our care. YOU are in a starring role and YOU have a host of heavenly cheerleaders smiling down on you today.

Enjoy this day! It will never come again. Take comfort that no matter what the day brings, you are loved and being held up by the greats that have gone on before you.

Hugs, Chrys